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| Ephesians 2 |
As foreigners in a land covered by the veil of Islam, how does one interact with the daily customs and spiritual practices in a God-honoring way? In the desire to see the End Vision of the launch of cascading movements to Christ, to personally embrace what it is to choose to persevere in Christ, is a key essential element.
One of the pillars of Islam is the practice of sholat, the recitation of the Shahada. This ceremonial obligation to alignment with the international body of Muslims is embraced five times daily. The Call to Prayer announces that invite to the heart of a Muslim.
Take a few moments and write down emotions you experience in times of hearing the blanket of the Call to Prayer wafting over your neighborhood. Be sure to acknowledge both positive and negative emotions related in the space below.
Read and discuss your own observations related to the Call to Prayer.
Muscular Darkness
And these are but the outer fringe of His works; how faint we hear the whisper of His mighty works, who then can understand the thunder of His power? - Job 26:14
Biawaks (monitor lizards). Muscular darkness. Call to Muslim prayer. Early morning. Sun rising declares itself in the backdrop, while a breath-taking view of Mount Rinjani crests above an all too common thick cloud covering. Tropical birds swarm in droves amidst the lush flora announcing the day. Poisonous snakes, feral cats, village chickens, wild dogs, all combine in a virtual kaleidoscope of life in daily rhythm. Two seasons of weather are the norm: a dry hot season, a wet hotter season. The first of five daily Muslim worship calls resoundingly and uniformly rises from Mosque to Mosque on this island of over seven thousand such gathering points. As commonly as the golden rays of sunrise crest above the mountainous foreground, the expected call beckons the hearts of this 99.9% Muslim ethnic people numbering 3.6 million.
Consider the Call to Prayer as seen from God’s heart. Now consider God’s heart for these Muslim peoples in light of …
…their lostness before a Holy God. Let this be fuel for the intercessory fire which needs to burn deeply within our hearts till as many as possible have access to the transforming power of the glory of God.
…our desperate need, as glory bearers, to persevere in Christ. Let this be fuel to ask God for the increase of an ACHE of a heart to walk in the humility of Christ in greater measure.
Read the following excerpt and discuss your own thoughts related.
What is it to persevere in Christ?
Twenty-nine years of seeing God’s sufficiency in our time thus far on the mission field causes my heart to pause at this question.
From our backyard, my husband and I sit overlooking the place of the Lord’s calling for us amongst these Muslim Unreached People Groups. This day, like any other day on the mission field, we are surrounded by the definitive and yet tangible evidences of how the Father has strengthened our hearts. Jesus continuously invites us into that place where His Holy Spirit teaches and empowers us to persevere. From our 2nd story balcony overlooking freshly planted rice fields configured into Muslim neighborhoods, I gaze. I am astonished by the beauty and worthiness of Christ alone as the unchangeable plumbline.
Precious memories greet me declaring his praise around every corner of life here. Memories of bringing a 3-year-old daughter and a 1- year- old son to this land flood my mind. Now, as we are in the season of having seen the Lord provide for our two precious children to be walking out the Lord’s unique plan for their lives, as we are officially “empty nesters”, I marvel. The Lord gives us the power to persevere apart from our most precious “entrustments”. Somehow the memories of having raised our children in this very place bring forth sweet gifts from the Lord’s hand. It is a portrait of the Father’s masterful artistry. On this canvas is displayed the strong colors of the Sovereign Hand of the Lord splashed through every nuance of tones and hues displayed through the leading of His ways. The lingering sound of the Call to Prayer continues.
Through physical attacks and threats,
through life and death medical evacuations,
through deaths of colleagues on the field,
through shepherding others who experience emotional crisis,
through conflicts among the missionary teams,
through loving one another,
through absence of grace demonstrated,
through intense levels of grace apportioned,
through fiery trials,
through spiritual warfare,
through brokenness,
through seasons of grieving, along with seasons of great celebration…
…somehow the Father delights in having us remain. He alone gets the glory.
Perseverance. Amazement at His ways shall produce a weight of perseverance impenetrable. Does my heart yearn with the love of Christ for these Muslim peoples, who rise five times daily to respond to that which shall give no answer? They possess not the starting point, which leads to the glorious end of the fullness of Christ. There is no knowledge of life in abundance for the lost, therefore, for the lost to persevere is an exercise in futility. Do I truly understand this? Is this reality reflected in how I view the veneer, called Islam, which shall crumble at the Name of Jesus?
…our heart cry which leads us, as glory bearers, to the place of humility and brokenness. Brokenness is a strong and yet necessary flavor-enhancing essential ingredient in order to embrace His higher ways. Necessary. For it is through brokenness of the heart of a follower of Christ that we gain a greater glimpse of the glory of God. That is, if there is yieldedness born forth in the heart of the follower. Only then can Christ’ redemptive power gain full range. Beyond all else, it is necessary that we each decrease of self-life and move into that for which we have been destined to embrace, Christlikeness.
…our heart response of love and compassion for these Muslim peoples as empowered by the Holy Spirit. The Call to Prayer is a challenge to remind us of the Spiritual Warfare involved in this process of the demonstration and declaration of the love of Christ.
Calvary Love
What’s love got to do with it? Everything. No, seriously. What is the connection of perseverance with Calvary’s cross and Christ’s resurrection?
I can’t say that I really understood Calvary Love before recent events compared to what glimpse I understand now. In this, I am truly grateful to the Lord for having broken my heart. Is it then possible that the greater work of the Father is found in the midst of the process? Can we truly proof text moving into His presence in such a way that we do actually experience His perfect love in the midst of even the seemingly most Perfect Storms of our lives? Is then the process of what the Father has allowed into our lives not the end in His economy? Honestly, is it only when I see my own desperate need for His touch along with my cavernous inability to transform unwanted circumstance that I see the power of His sufficiency alone? How many times will He keep us, as believers, from falling headlong? Countless times. How many times will my heart not grasp that He truly wired us for delighting in His ways alone? Though I could never imagine the journey of your own heart I know that if many of you are continuing to stand in an infectious faith, then, you have chosen the greater portion; perseverance born forth from a growing hunger to know and embrace His loving touch in all ways is one of many delights from the Father’s heart. This incredibly paradoxical life is only made possible through the power of the Holy Spirit moving us to embrace Calvary Love in greater measure, no matter the cost and come what may the perceived personal loss. Calvary Love.
…our deep need to intercede and interact with the passion of Christ for Muslim peoples
As one considers the Call to Prayer for Muslims, may this be seen as an opportunity to anticipate the transformation of how we view those very ones who know not His love, His forgiveness, nor His grace and mercy. As I consider the reality that we have been invited to be co-heirs, through Christ alone, with the God of the universe, I find my own commitment to prayer pales in comparison. Though Muslim peoples pray in futility and repetitions, I stand in awe of the weapons of our warfare which we, as a Body of the Living God, so lamely appropriate.
Spend time interceding over these reminders together as a group.
ABBA Father, clothe me this day in humility. Remind me that there is nothing more precious and nothing more worthy than pressing onward to know You and to adore You. Bring my heart to the onward and upward processes of clinging to Your worthiness alone in all areas of my life. At every Call to Prayer which goes forth among the lost, cause my heart to pause at the reality of Your risen presence and the nearness of the Your lavish touch. Quicken me to intercede for the work of Your mighty hand in the revelation of Your truth and righteousness as the one and only Jalan yang Lurus dan Benar (the straight and true way of Allah). May I be one who understands at heart levels that I am coming before You, My King. May I give you all that is due Your Holy Name in my thought, action, and inclination of heart. In Jesus’ matchless Name, Amen.