Author: bestcurrentnews

Both Christians and Muslims believe in Jesus, however Muslims do not believe that Jesus is the Son of God. There are areas of agreement though between Christians and Muslims which make Jesus unique even within Islam. For instance, Muslims believe Jesus was born of a virgin. The Qur’an says:

And make mention of Mary in the Scripture, when she had withdrawn from her people to a chamber looking East and had chosen seclusion from them. Then We sent unto her Our spirit, and it assumed for her the likeness of a perfect man. She said: Lo! I seek refuge in the Beneficent One from thee, if thou art God-fearing. He said: I am only a messenger from thy Lord, that I may bestow on thee a faultless son. She said: How can I have a son when no mortal hath touched me, neither have I been unchaste? He said: So, it will be. Thy Lord saith: It is easy for Me. And it will be that We may make of him a revelation for mankind and a mercy from Us, and it is a thing ordained. And she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a far place. Sura 19:16-22.

Both the Bible and Qur’an agree that Jesus was sinless. This is a trait unique to Jesus in both texts. It is implied in the Qur’an that a man cannot be faultless unless he is born of a virgin (Sura 19:19). Since Jesus was the only man to be born of a virgin, he is also the only sinless man that ever lived.

Although Islam denies that Jesus was crucified, it does teach that He ascended. Sura 4:158 says, “Allah took Him up to Himself.” Both the Bible and Qur’an agree that Jesus ascended to heaven and is alive there to this day.

Finally, both Christianity and Islam believe that Jesus will return. Christians and Muslims differ in what they expect Jesus to do when He returns, but both expect Him to return and take control of the earth again. “And (Jesus) shall be a sign for (the coming of) hour (of Judgment).” Sura 43:61

The virgin birth of Jesus, His sinlessness, His ascension and His second coming demonstrate that He was much more than a prophet. While other men come from the dust and return to it, Jesus came from God and returned to God. (John 16:28).

Even though there are similarities, there is a vast difference in Muslims’ understanding. In addition to not believing that Jesus is God,  Muslims do not believe in original sin see no need for forgiveness. Although they believe Jesus is a prophet, they do not believe that on the cross He died for the sins of mankind providing redemption for all who will believe. 

Prayer Point:

During Ramadan when Muslims are seeking, we thank You, Father, that your drawing power is leading them to read the gospels to learn the power of the cross of Christ for their lives, opening their eyes to the truth of Christ’s salvation.

We Take Up the Rod of Heaven’s Authority:

We declare that the spiritual darkness over the minds of Muslims can no longer keep them from salvation, and a great desire for “truth” is stirring in their hearts, bringing them to the realization of sin in their lives and a longing for forgiveness!

To completely deal with a spiritual issue, God looks at the root. At the root of Islam is an identity crisis.

All Muslims consider themselves the spiritual descendants of Ishmael, Abraham’s son. In fact, Muhammad was a direct descendent of Ishmael through Ishmael’s second son, Kedar.

The Biblical account of Ishmael is found in Genesis 16-17. Ishmael, whose name means “God hears,” was the first person to ever be named by God before birth. The Bible tells us that Abram was 86 years old when Ishmael was born to Hagar, the servant of Abram’s wife. Thirteen years later, when Abram was 99, God appeared to him, changed his name to Abraham and promised to make him the father of many nations. God also told Abraham that His covenant would be established through his son Isaac, the son that Sarah his wife would have.

Abraham petitioned God regarding his son Ishmael, and God said, “as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation…”

Genesis 21 describes the fulfillment of the promise of the birth of Isaac. When Isaac was weaned, Abraham had a feast. Sarah saw Ishmael mocking Isaac and insisted that Abraham send Ishmael and his mother away. At age 15, Ishmael was cast out of his father’s house. Abraham loved Ishmael so the thought of sending him away was quite distressing. God then said to Abraham, “Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called. Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman because he is your seed” (Genesis 21:12-13).

So, at the age of 15, Ishmael was forced from his father’s house. After soon running out of water, he found himself dying in the wilderness. His mother, Hagar, could not bear to see her son die so she left him alone under a shrub to die. Imagine the pain of rejection and fatherlessness, Ishmael must have experienced – in an instant he went from being a son to a servant. The Bible says God heard the cry of Ishmael, and then He spoke to Hagar, “Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation” (Genesis 21:17-18). God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. She gave Ishmael a drink, saving him from death. He grew and lived in the wilderness.

Ishmael lost his identity when his father, Abraham cast him out. Without a father, he also lost his inheritance. Even today the religion of Islam reflects the lost identity and inheritance of Ishmael. Muslims see themselves as servants of God, but they cannot have a personal relationship with their god, Allah, so they are desperately working to please him and avoid judgment.

Prayer Point:

Pray that God will reveal the truth about the destiny of the Muslim people that is hidden in the name of Ishmael – He hears their cries and desires a relationship with them as their Father.

We Take Up the Rod of Heaven’s Authority:

Father, we stand in the authority You have given us to proclaim Your will in the earth. This day we declare that the hearts of Muslims around the earth are responding to the love of God and are awakening to the truth that Jesus Christ is more than a prophet of Islam; that He is truly the Son of the living God.

The UN Refugee Agency reports that there are currently 26.4 million people around the world that are refugees. Of this 26.4 million, 6.7 million are from Syria and 2.6 million are from Afghanistan – both primarily Islamic nations, and both with shame- based cultures. In fact, a quick look at the map below demonstrates how prevalent the shame/honor-based culture is around the world.

It is increasingly likely that people in your sphere of influence possess a much different background and cultural lens than you do. As Westerners, primarily with a guilt/innocence mindset, it can be difficult to see, much less, present the gospel with a different mindset. To demonstrate the difference, The 3D Gospel, by Jayson Georges, compares mindsets using the “Four Spiritual Laws” booklet as an example. Here is a comparison of the guilt/innocence to the shame/honor mindset from the book:

Guilt/Innocence

God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life. Jesus came so that we would have eternal life and not perish. Jesus offers us an abundant life.

Shame/Honor

God values you and wants to honor you as His child. God created us with glory and honor, to live with harmony in his family.

Guilt/Innocence

People are sinful and condemned by God. Our transgressions create a barrier between us and a holy God. Good works fail to reach God’s standard.

Shame/Honor

People are shameful and dishonor God. Our rebellion disgraces the glorious God and produces shame. Our attempts to restore honor fall short of covering the shame of our spiritual orphanage.

Guilt/Innocence

Jesus Christ is the perfect sacrifice for your sins. Jesus died on the cross in our place to pay the penalty of sins. Jesus bore the wrath of God’s punishment for us.

Shame/Honor

Jesus Christ bore all your shame and restores honor. Jesus’ disgraceful death removes our shame and restores honor. By honoring God, Jesus allows you to rejoin God’s family.

Guilt/Innocence

You must receive Jesus as your personal Savior. Receive Christ as personal Savior and turn from human morality to have forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

Shame/Honor

You must give allegiance to Jesus to enter God’s family. Receive God’s gracious welcome into his family and live under His name. Turn from false cultural face to receive honor from God.

Presenting the truths of scripture from a different mindset can be challenging, but Jesus’ death and resurrection is a “complete” gospel – one that reaches people from all cultural mindsets.

We Take Up the Rod of Heaven’s Authority:

Lord God, although humans view the Bible through cracked, blurred lenses, Your infallible Word of Truth will powerfully overcome cultural traditions and beliefs. We declare that the perfect scriptures for each person will be heard and received by those raised in Shame-based cultures, and through the work of the Holy Spirit, understanding will be quickly received, bringing many souls into Christ’s kingdom!

In the book Honor and Shame, Roland Muller discusses three basic emotional responses to Adam and Eve’s original sin in the Garden of Eden: guilt, shame, and fear. After they sinned, they felt guilty because they had broken God’s command. They felt shame – they knew they were naked, and so they covered themselves. And they felt fear – they hid themselves from God.

Cultures and worldviews have been shaped by one or more of these emotional responses. Some cultures primarily operate with one clear worldview; others may be a mixture of all three. Most Western culture is primarily based on guilt/innocence – we clearly understand the concepts of right and wrong. Guilt/innocence-based cultures are typically individualistic. We believe individuals are responsible for themselves and their behavior.

A different worldview shaped Islam. In fact, the shame/honor basis of Islam can be traced to the Bedouin honor codes. Unlike the individual responsibility of those from a Western mindset, shame/honor-based cultures are attached to groups – families, tribes, nations, etc. Shameful deeds affect the entire group, and as such, they are hidden, and if they cannot hide them, then the shameful deed demands revenge. In this culture, the importance of the group outweighs the importance of an individual. If a person shames the family, and the family is unable to hide the shameful deed, the mindset says that the family must avenge. Islam is conformity to the point of submission.

Interestingly, the “woke” culture of today’s social media is quite successful in operating within the parameters of a shame-based culture. Freedom of speech and facts have little effect on public opinion once the social media overlords have determined the woke position. Countless people have been publicly shamed for simply daring to express an opinion contrary to the group thought. Often this public shaming has led to the loss of jobs and, in a couple of cases, even the loss of life. Much like Islam, “wokeness” also insists on conformity to the point of submission. 

Understanding this difference in worldview helps Western Christians understand and reach out to Muslims. But perhaps it will also help us understand and learn how to reach the “woke” generation, which is now threatening to reshape our own culture. 

Prayer Point:

Lord, the sense of guilt, shame, and fear are strongholds in the lives of those who are followers of Islam, and they need the teaching of the truth of the Word of God to bring deliverance. We pray that You will reveal to the hearts of Muslims that by becoming a follower of Jesus they can receive the emotional freedom and liberty that will be life changing.

We Take Up the Rod of Heaven’s Authority:

Based upon Psalm 32:7, we declare that through Christ, You will be the hiding place of Muslims who come to Jesus, You will protect them from trouble and surround them with songs of deliverance, bringing the emotional freedom they long for.

In a recent article, called “Islam is the Only Winner in the Ukraine War,” Daniel Greenfield stated, “Wars are wonderful distractions. Especially wars that don’t involve us and in which our only stake is a hashtag and a position. But unless we start thinking seriously about the future, we won’t just lose, we will cease to exist.”

As the world’s attention has been drawn to Russia and Ukraine, another aggressive world power continues to rapidly expand its reach, however unlike Russia this world power is not limited to a specific geographical area which makes its expansion less noticeable. Who is this world power? Islam – self-described as a religion, but more accurately defined as a totalitarian, political system.

To compare, Russia has population of roughly 146 million people and is declining. Islam, however, boasts a population of approximately 1.9 billion and is growing. Even within Russia, the Muslim population is growing with a birthrate of 2.5 children for Muslims compared to a birth rate of 1.5 for other Russians. In developed countries, the replacement rate is 2.1 children per woman in order to maintain a stable population. 

Islam’s expansionist nature has existed since its inception through jihad (war), migration and high birth rates. The Pew Research Center reports that by 2050, the Muslim population in Europe will more than double depending on migration rates. Even if migration was halted the Muslim population would still rise due to high birth rates among Muslims in Europe. The Pew Research groups predicts by 2050, 29.7% of the world’s population will be Muslim, an increase from the current figure of 23.5%.

As we focus on these numbers remember Matthew 9:38, “Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.”

Prayer Point:

Lord, You are the Lord of the harvest of souls and it is Your harvest field. We pray that You will send out workers to preach the truth to every Muslim with the message that Jesus Christ is truly the Son of God who will give them salvation from their sins and the gift of eternal life.

 We Take Up the Rod of Heaven’s Authority:

We declare during this Ramadan season that the Muslim people will fully recognize their spiritual hunger, and have a strong desire, even a craving for the truth of the Word of God.

Since 2012, Best Current News has presented articles and graphics along with suggested prayer points during the Islamic month of Ramadan. Because the month is based on the lunar calendar, the dates change each year by approximately 11 days. This year Ramadan begins on Saturday, April 2, 2022.

After over two years of worldwide turmoil marked by the Covid-19 pandemic, the ensuing lockdowns, supply shortages, inflation, war, and an obvious and concerning moral decline in our nations, you may wonder if Islam still matters. We believe that within the next 30 days, you will realize that although Islam has not been in the headlines, it is still making significant advances in the world and is a topic that needs the continued prayer of Christians.

Many people are overwhelmed with the issues in their own lives. Our e-mail inboxes overflow with a constant barrage of bad news, and the thought of one more e-mail to read can seem onerous. Because the number of emails received can be overwhelming, this year we are streamlining our Ramadan series. Instead of sending daily information, for the next 30-days we will be sending an e-mail 3 times a week (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday). We invite you to join with us as we present current updates and pertinent information to give you a renewed basis for prayer.

Our prayer for this first day of Ramadan, 2022:

Prayer Point:

John 6:44 declares that “No one can come to Jesus unless the Father who sent Jesus draws him …”  Father, we ask during this Ramadan season that you look at the hearts of every Muslim around the world and draw them to the Lord Jesus Christ.

We Take Up the Rod of Heaven’s Authority:

The power of the Word of God is greater than any stronghold over the life of an unbeliever. This day we declare that the truth of God’s love, joy, peace, goodness, and faithfulness is being stirred and desired in the hearts of Muslims around the world, calling them to true salvation in Christ.

God’s love for the Muslim people is immeasurable! As Ramadan ends, thank you for standing with us in prayer during the past thirty days. We invite you to participate in a brief survey about our Ramadan prayer series. Please click here to take a short survey. OUR FINAL THOUGHT: During the past month, our messages revealed that even the most radical of Muslims could be changed with the powerful, life-changing gospel of Christ. We have attempted to separate the Muslim people from the deception of the teachings of Islam. Because of their religious beliefs based upon the Qur’an and the Hadith (sayings of Muhammad), they are a shame-based society that lacks freedom of expression, and they follow beliefs that causes suffering in their lives. Even if a Muslim is dangerous, they were not born evil; they have been taught the doctrines they believe in that cause them to act in that manner. People can learn to make a separation in their minds between the Muslim people and the teachings of Islam. Only a tiny percentage of Muslims are radical. All the others can be described as secular, traditional, moderate, or orthodox who want to live a normal life, enjoy their families, and be pleasing to their god. A person can love and respect Muslim people even if they reject the teachings of Islam. As we complete this series, it is important that we have an understanding of their beliefs and be ready to unveil or expose those that are contrary to the Word of God. But above all, we remember that Jesus loves them the same as He loves us, and He died for their sins. During this month God has stirred the hearts of Christians throughout the nations to pray for Muslims to come into His kingdom. May God bind all of our prayers together before His throne, bringing an incredible harvest of souls coming to Christ around the world. To God be the glory! THANK YOU!

Hatred is a strong, negative feeling, a deep emotion that is the opposite of God’s agape (Greek) love. Hatred toward another person or a people group sees the object of our hatred as immoral, dangerous, evil, or all of this together. 

We know that Saul (who became Apostle Paul) was a Christian-hating (Acts 9:1), Christ-persecuting (Acts 9:5) zealot ({Philippians 3:6; Galatians 1:14) before his conversion to the Lord. God reached the hatred in his heart with the truth of the gospel.

On Day 28, we shared about Dr. Mark A. Gabriel, who grew up in Egypt. Memorizing the Qur’an at an early age, he received a PH.D. in Islamic history and culture from Al-Azhar University in Cairo. Through reading the book of Matthew, he became a believer in Christ. He renounced Islam and after assassin attempts, fled Egypt and arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa. 

Dr. Gabriel shared that it was natural for him to grow up with a great hatred toward the Jews, because that is the true attitude of Islam. He said, “It was an honor for me to prove to the people around me and even to myself that I was really against the Jews.” He felt it was his duty to visit the cemetery and curse the Jews because the Qur’an says that Allah and Allah’s people will curse the Jews until judgment day (Sura 2:159). Because he was faithful to what he believed, he took every opportunity to speak against them, to curse them, and to spit on their gravestones. Many times he talked about this in his sermons at the mosque and would command the people, “When you walk close to that cemetery, you must give Allah the joy of cursing the children of pigs and monkeys.”

Even though he had received Jesus as his Lord and Savior and left Islam, his attitude toward the Jews stayed the same for two years. One day in Johannesburg, he was taken to a Bible study led by a young lady, an “ex-Jew” (Messianic Jew), now a follower of Jesus. He was afraid because he expected all Jewish people to hate him because of his Muslim background. It was the first time in his life he had ever been introduced to a Jew. When he met her, he was shocked; she was friendly and hugged him. He was shaken up by her kindness. As he met the other people (Messianic Jews and a Jewish family), he couldn’t see any disrespect and hatred. The Lord was impacting him, as the Holy Spirit was teaching and bringing conviction.

At the end of the study, he asked to speak. He said, “Jesus’ most recent miracle happened here tonight. By this miracle, He united you and me to be brother and sister through His blood. No other power in the world can do this type of reconciliation between the Jews and Muslims.” God showed him there was no room for hatred toward other people. He realized he didn’t hate anymore (I John 2:10-11). 

Hatred for others has no place in our lives, whether we be Muslim, Jewish, or Christian!
*Adapted from: Mark A. Gabriel, Ph.D. – “Islam and the Jews”

Prayer

Jesus Christ, Himself is the great reconciler for all of us! Pray that all people will recognize that His love can prevail in all relationships, releasing forgiveness and healing of wounded hearts.

One of the joys of being a follower of Jesus is singing praises to the Lord. The book of Psalms has many references to praising Him with our whole heart. For example, the Psalmist declares, “As for me, I shall sing of Your strength; yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the morning, for You have been my stronghold and a refuge in the day of my distress” (Psalm 59:16). Throughout the Word of God, vocal praise and worship is a vital part of the life of a Christian.

Most every Christian worship service begins with songs of declaring who God is and expressing our love for Him. We may assume this is true in Islam, but it is not.

Dr. Mark A. Gabriel has a powerful testimony of his life growing up in Egypt. Memorizing the Qur’an at an early age, he holds a PH.D. in Islamic history and culture from Al-Azhar University in Cairo. In a July 2004 Charisma Magazine article, he shared that even with all his religious training in Islam, after the first reading the book of Matthew, he chose to follow the Lord and accepted Jesus as his God and Savior. When he renounced Islam, Muslims in Egypt attempted to assassinate him several times. The last attempt was by his own father, who tried to shoot him with his handgun to restore his honor and wash away his shame with his son’s blood. Mark fled Egypt, and after crossing mountains, deserts, jungles, and rivers, he arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Dr. Gabriel discussed experiencing worship of Jesus in his life. In Johannesburg, he began fellowshipping with an English-speaking congregation, despite the difficulty of not knowing the language. He said, “For me, the most beautiful part of the service was praising and singing before the Lord. One of the first songs that deeply touched me was ‘How Great Thou Art.’ Through it, I could appreciate this great God of ours who created the universe and then humbled Himself for me and everyone else.”

Thinking about the Islamic songs he learned in his youth, he shared they would sing “Muslims We Are” when they gathered to begin a day at school, declaring they were accepting death, refusing surrender, and by the sword, they defeated the enemy. He went on to say, “They don’t understand anything different because of sin.” Dr. Gabriel expressed that the problem for the Muslim people is sin (Romans 5:12) and because of that, “the way of peace they do not know” (Romans, chapter 3).

Many young Iranian Muslims go to schools in Europe for their education and, while there, learn about Jesus and receive Him as Lord. When they attend a church where their language, Farsi, is spoken, the worship begins. For the first time in their lives, they see the words of the songs of love for Jesus, and they begin to sing praises to Him. Imagine! They have never experienced anything like that before. It is incredible to see the expression of joy on their faces as they corporately worship their Savior, the One who has given them the true way of peace!

Prayer

Our God is worthy of praise, and multitudes of Muslims will desire to praise Jesus if they have an understanding of His love for them. Pray they will receive a divine revelation of that love and respond with their whole hearts.

n Day 21, we read the true story of Cemil and Isil, Muslims in Turkey. In that first part, Isil, the wife, had an encounter with Jesus Christ, and then about six months later, her husband Cemil also had an encounter with Christ. In a way that opened their spiritual eyes, Christ knew exactly when and how to reveal Himself to each of them individually.

Christ appeared to Cemil in a bright light. Cemil said he could not see his face, but he knew it was Jesus. Cemil shared, “I was not afraid but very astonished. Jesus was standing very close to me. He asked, ‘What are you looking for?’ I replied, ‘The truth.’ 

Then Jesus said, ‘I am the Way, the Truth, and the Light.’ He then came even closer to me and put His hand on the top of my head. I felt an energy coming out of His hand going straight through me. My whole body started to shake under the power coming from Him. My wife came into the room. She saw me shaking so badly and called my name, crying, ‘What’s the matter? What’s happening?’ Jesus then told me not to be afraid and to tell Isil not to be afraid.

The shaking stopped, and I told Isil not to fear, that I was seeing Jesus, and we were talking. She replied in shock, ‘If you are talking to Jesus, ask if Him if He heard me when I prayed at the church six months ago and ask Him what I prayed about.’

Before I could speak, Christ answered, ‘I heard.’ He then told me what she had prayed, and I started telling her all that He told me. I was still seeing Jesus, but I heard Isil crying, and she said, ‘You really are talking to Him because I never told you what I had prayed about.’ Then she said, ‘Ask Him what we should do.’”

Christ answered, “Repent, and I will show you the way.” And then He was gone. I looked at my wife, and she was on her knees crying. I was also crying. We did just what He said and repented from our sins. I held my wife’s hands, and we repented together. We said, “We believe in You, Jesus. Thank You for coming into our lives.”

God honors those who call out to Him in desperation and sincerity, who long to know the Truth. God told the prophet, Jeremiah, “Call to Me, and I will answer you” (Jeremiah 33:3). This same invitation is extended to all today.

 * Adapted from Cemil and Isil Akbulut – 5 Amazing Muslims touched by GOD

Prayer

Lord, our world is deceived by sin. We pray as Muslims all over the world are seeking, that they will cry out to you in sincere longing and desperation for truth. We ask You to reveal Yourself to each of them personally and glorify Your name, just as You did with Cemil and Isil.