bestcurrentnews 2023 Ramadan Prayer

His Word Is Not Empty

“As the rain and snow come down from heaven and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish…so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:10-11)

Thank you for joining us in prayer. Today Muslims around the world are celebrating Eid al-Fitr (Festival of Breaking of the Fast) as Ramadan ends. These celebrations vary since Muslims originate from many different countries. However, some things, such as offering congregational Eid prayers and enjoying a feast with family and friends, are universal. 

We ask that you continue to pray for Muslims throughout the year. Here are some scriptures to pray:

Pray for the removal of spiritual blindness:

“The God of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:4)

“This is why I speak to them in parables: Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.” (Matthew 13:13)

Pray for signs and wonders:

“Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” (Acts 4:29-30)

“This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders, and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.” (Hebrews 2:3-4)

Pray for salvation:

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17)

PRAYER POINT

People worldwide have been praying for the salvation of Muslims for the past 30 days. We know God has heard our prayers and is answering. Pray that now the Holy Spirit will breathe life on all that has been done, watering the seeds of prayer and sending believers across the path of Muslims to continue to speak the life of Christ and unveil the truth to their hearts, resulting in the salvation of multitudes of Muslims. We believe God to populate heaven as a result of our prayers. Thank you for your faithfulness!

bestcurrentnews 2018 Ramadan Prayer, Uncategorized

Bridge Building vs. Crossing the Bridge

Crossing vs Creating Bridge

Since 2012, Best Current News has produced a prayer series for Christians that corresponds to the Islamic month of Ramadan. We are certainly not the first or largest Christian group that produces a prayer guide for Ramadan, however our approach is unique. In addition to encouraging our readers to pray for Muslims, we often ask that our readers pray for their fellow Christians during this time. This year we are beginning by asking you to pray for your Christian brothers and sisters in your families, churches, neighborhoods and communities.

Because Islam is called one of the three “Abrahamic faiths” along with Judaism and Christianity, many Christians do not realize that the Abraham of the Bible is radically different from the Abraham in the Muslim faith and that Islam is radically different than Christianity. Sadly few in the western Christian church realize the differences between the teachings of Islam and Christianity, and surveys of Christians unveil this fact.

A report by the Pew Research Center revealed that 65% of Christians believe that many religions can lead to eternal life – breaking down the report further, 77% of Catholics, 82% of Mainline Protestants, and 47% of Evangelicals believe that at least one other religion (not denomination) can lead to eternal life. Interestingly, 56% of Muslims believe many religions can lead to eternal life.

Depending on which church you attend, there is a good chance that the majority of those sitting around you no longer believe Jesus’ words in John 14:6, “…I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Many of these Christians speak of “bridge building” as a way to find “common ground” between Islam and Christianity. However there is a problem when Christians begin to cross the bridge they have constructed. No one can cross a bridge without taking a step toward the middle and ultimately those steps lead Christians away from the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

So we ask as we begin this Ramadan season that you pray for your fellow Christians. Pray they may have an understanding of and most importantly an encounter with “THE TRUTH,” Jesus Christ the Son of God, and that as the eyes of the Church are open to Truth they will be bold and uncompromising in their witness to our Muslim neighbors.

bestcurrentnews 2016 Ramadan Prayer

Your Prayers Are Making a Difference

2016 Ramadan GraphicRamadan, Islam’s holiest month, has been filled this year with multiple terror attacks killing over 1,600 people in 31 nations around the world. Fear and anger are normal reactions, but as Christians we must respond to Muslims from God’s perspective, separating the Muslim people from the system of Islam. The prayers that we pray corporately have the ability to speak God’s life, light, truth and love over horrendous situations. As the body of Christ, may we all seek Him so that we may change the atmosphere of terror and threats and advance God’s Kingdom on the earth as we speak His life and send forth His light in the midst of this darkness.

God is moving despite the darkness of Islam. Open Doors reports Muslims in the Middle East are turning to Jesus in unprecedented numbers. David Garrison, author of A Wind in the House of Islam, says, “we are living in the midst of the greatest turning of Muslims to Christ in history.” Some estimates say that there are now more than 1 million Christians in Iran. CBN quotes Heidi Baker of Iris Ministries regarding African Muslims, “Many people are having dreams. They see Jesus appear to them. Probably half our pastors were leaders, imams in Moslem mosques. They were leaders in these mosques, now they’re pastors.”

As we conclude this series, we thank you for all your prayers during the Ramadan 30-days of prayer for the Muslim people. It is important to remember that James 5:16b (NLT) tells us, “When a believing person prays, great things happen!” Please continue throughout the year to pray and declare scriptures over the lives of Muslims. As we co-labor with God in prayer, we believe He will remove spiritual blindness, bring them signs and wonders to reveal His heart, and bring them to salvation in Christ.

BCN Ramadan 2015 Day 30 Pray Without Ceasing

bestcurrentnews 2014 Ramadan Prayer

Pausing for Perspective

2014 Ramadan Prayer Day 18Our prayer series this year is called, “Contending for the Captives.” Contend in modern English means “to struggle in opposition, to strive in debate, dispute earnestly.” Captive simply means “a prisoner or slave.” Yet when we look at the meanings of these two words in the Bible, there is a depth that modern English does not convey.

Jude 1:3 says, “Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.” The word, “contend” is from the Greek verb, epagónizomai meaning, “to contend …i.e. with skill and commitment in opposing whatever is not of faith (God’s persuasion).”

In Luke 4:18 Jesus declares, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.” The word, “captives” in this verse is aichmalótos. The origins are from aichmé (a spear) and haliskomai (to be taken, conquered).

Putting the two together our series this year encourages you to, “contend with skill and commitment in opposing whatever is not of faith on behalf of those taken by the spear.” How appropriate when you consider that Muhammad took portions of Christianity along with other religions and pagan traditions and created Islam. Teaching that Christianity had been corrupted, Muhammad’s message is an example of the fulfillment of Jude 1:4, “certain men…deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.”

In addition, as his religious message was rejected, Muhammad’s new message evolved from primarily a religious one toLuke 4-18 Prison more of a political and militaristic one. In the first 13 years of Islam, the religion averaged only 11 to 12 converts a year, but after Muhammad’s message evolved to a violent, militaristic one, Islam averaged 1,000 new followers each year for the remaining years of Muhammad’s life. It is a religion that has truly taken captives by use of the sword. In fact, throughout the 1400-year history of Islam, it is estimated that 270,000,000 non-Muslims have been killed through jihad as Islam has increased its influence.

Perhaps what is most tragic regarding Islam is the number of innocent people, both Muslim and non-Muslim, who are negatively and sometimes tragically impacted by the system of Islam. It is also for those victims – it is for the captives that we contend.

Jesus proclaimed, “The thief comes not, but to steal, and to kill and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

It can be difficult to read about practices such as stoning, female genital mutilation, sodomy of young boys, forced marriages and other human rights abuses that go on around the world. It takes Christians with the heart of God for the Muslim people to intercede for them despite the evil practices that are committed in the name of the “religion of peace”. When it comes to contending for the captives of Islam, each of us needs to hear from heaven – to know what Father is saying, and then proclaim His will be done in each situation.

There is an expression that says, “Don’t be so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good.” Yet, we must be so heavenly minded that we are earthly good! The world and the captives need Christians to be a relevant majority once again.

Prayer Points:

It is so important to remember that Christ died for each of the 1.6 billion Muslims in the world. He loves them with an everlasting love.

As you have read the articles throughout the series, ask God to reveal anything in your heart that is not pleasing to Him. Ask Him also to continually help each of us to separate the system of Islam from loving the people of Islam. Our prayers will prevail in their lives – releasing them from the captivity of the system to the love and heart of God.