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Pray For The Children Of Ishmael

Dear Friends,

Having traveled with Mike Jacoby & Ross Stern to North Africa last week, I am reminded of Abraham’s prayer in Genesis 17:18, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!”

There are hundreds of millions of Ishmael’s children who follow the way of Islam - a way that leads not to light, but to darkness. I praise God for the faithful work of his servants who are plowing the ground and planting the seed of the gospel in inhospitable terrain. There are glimmers of a harvest on the horizon. Even now, in Algeria, thousands of people are coming to faith in Jesus. Pray that this gospel awakening would dawn in the neighboring countries throughout North Africa.

On Sunday night, Oct. 27, we will show a video of our trip. But for now, remember to pray for Bill & Rosa Mary, Patrick & Alicia, and their families as they make much of Christ amongst the sons & daughters of Ishmael.

Samuel Zwemer (1867-1952) was called “The Apostle to Islam.” In 1923, he prayed for the Muslim world like this - may we imitate his example, ninety years later:

Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, who hast made of one blood all nations and hast promised that many shall come from the East and sit down with Abraham in thy kingdom: We pray for thy prodigal children in Muslim lands who are still afar off, that they may be brought nigh by the blood of Christ. Look upon them in pity, because they are ignorant of thy truth.

Take away pride of intellect and blindness of heart, and reveal to them the surpassing beauty and power of thy Son Jesus Christ. Convince them of their sin in rejecting the atonement of the only Savior. Give moral courage to those who love thee, that they may boldly confess thy name.

Hasten the day of religious freedom in Turkey, Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, and North Africa. Send forth reapers where the harvest is ripe, and faithful plowmen to break furrows in lands still neglected. May the tribes of Africa and Malaysia not fall prey to Islam but be won for Christ. Bless the ministry of healing in every hospital, and the ministry of love at every church and mission. May all Muslim children in mission schools be led to Christ and accept him as their personal Savior.

Strengthen converts, restore backsliders, and give all those who labor among Muslims the tenderness of Christ, so that bruised reeds may become pillars of his church, and smoking flaxwicks burning and shining lights. Make bare thine arm, O God, and show thy power. All our expectation is from thee.
Father, the hour has come; glorify thy Son in the Muslim world, and fulfill through him the prayer of Abraham thy friend, “O, that Ishmael might live before thee.” For Jesus’ sake. Amen.

The paragraphs above, as well as other writings from Zwemer, can be found in Islam and the Cross: Selections from “The Apostle to Islam” edited by Roger Greenway. Taken from Kevin DeYoung’s blog:

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2010/03/27/a-prayer-for-muslim-lands/