One of the primary ways God is drawing Muslims to Himself is through simple Bible studies that highlight passages of scripture from Creation through the Resurrection. The Waha app contains many story sets that have been translated into dozens of languages. Throughout the 30 days we will pray through these story sets that reveal Jesus, the Word made flesh.
As you read these familiar passages, prayerfully imagine what it would be like to read them for the first time – to see the wisdom, power, beauty, and authority of God and to be drawn to trust in Christ and yield your allegiance to Him.
On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—”I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.” After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything, he rose and followed him. And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
This passage teaches us that our faith and actions impact others. Pray for God to raise up brave men and women among this people group who would go to extraordinary lengths to bring their friends to Christ’s feet.
“Did I tell you I went on the pilgrimage to Mecca this year?” Rania proudly asked. “Yes, Auntie, you did.” “Hmmm,” Rania continued unfazed, “I spent 21 days in Saudi Arabia.” Rania then went on to list other good deeds she had done. Religion, with its lists of dos and don’ts, has a way of slanting our orientation and causing us to focus on how much better we are than other people we are comparing ourselves to.
Jesus said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32). Not from any sense of superiority, but in a spirit of humility, pray for God to reveal spiritual sickness to Muslims in this land and to stir them to seek out the Good Physician who alone can fully heal their sin problem.
Muslims’ objections to Christ sound very much like the Pharisees of Jesus’ day. “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” They don’t object to the idea that He did miracles; rather, they object to the authority He claimed — that He is the Son of God and has the power to forgive sins.
Pray for miracles to take place in this land that confirm the authority of Jesus as the Son of God. Thank Him for the many signs and wonders He is pouring out all over the Muslim world and pray for those to result in families, neighborhoods, friend groups, and repenting of self-righteousness and clinging to Christ’s true righteousness.
We know very little about the four people who carried the paralytic to Jesus, but we can assume that they did this with significant effort and sacrifice on their part.
Another account of a lame man being healed is found in Acts chapter 3.
“And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.”
Lord, we pray for the continuation of the work you began through the early church today in this land and among this people. Just as this healing led to Peter and John having to publicly proclaim Christ, may miracles today result in the bold testimony to the One who heals. May Christ be treasured and revered among the people of this place.