In my previous post I mentioned J who is the provisional pastor for the house church that was planted in the wake of our visit to South Asia. In a matter of weeks, J had gone from being alone in his quest to follow Jesus to leading a small congregation of about 10 new believers. Part of that came through our sharing with his family. The rest happened as J boldly began proclaiming the good news to his neighbors and friends.
Just this past week J was confronted by a Muslim cleric who asked about the books that J has been distributing through the shanty. J was a little intimidated at first, but after some wise counsel and training from our missionary friend, he has since boldly shared with the cleric. Here's the latest:
Yesterday morning I taught J some things about using the Qur'an, because an imam from the area had heard that he had been baptized. He learned how there is no way to know for sure from the Qur'an, or Islam, that we could go to heaven. Even (Muhammad) does not know. How can common people (who follow him)? J went after that imam (following this training), and its sound like he cleaned his clock. I am pretty sure this is the case because today the guy is coming back with a couple more "big" imams (leading Muslim "pastors"). They are also bringing the Hadith (interpretations of the Qur'an). That is what an imam does after a good (theological) spanking. Well, when the imam said to J, "you have to go to the Mosque to pray," then J answered, "Why, does God live only there? Can He not hear us unless we are there? I have been given new life inside. I can pray anywhere and God hears me." We had been learning (through our studies together) from John 4 about true prayer and worship. Today I taught him from John 3. God has given us new life on the inside. Everything in Islam is outside, but the God of the Bible works on the inside as well. He makes us want to do right, and gives us the ability. In Islam, we have no way of knowing that God has love for us. But John 3 says, "in this way we know that God loved the world; because he gave His only begotten Son, that anyone who believes in Him would not perish, but have everlasting life." If you dont believe on the Son you are condemned already. Pray that these things would continue to reprogram (renew) J's mind.
And pray that as J boldly shares these things with the Muslim leaders that they too would repent and turn to follow Jesus. Ask the LORD of the Harvest to continue to work among this tiny house church and strengthen those in it to obey the commands of Jesus joyfully, no matter what the cost.
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