Month: September 2015

Revival in the Middle East

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The news broadcasts seem to show an invincible Islamic advance throughout the Middle East, but in fact many Muslims around the world are converting to Christ in big numbers.

From World Revival Network:

The Underground Revival In The Middle-East That Might Just Take Down Islam

The churning, tempestuous world looks remarkably different than many imagine. This is undoubtedly true if you’re an average American. 

In the darkest corners of the Middle-East there’s a revival beginning that’s unprecedented in the history of world missions. I’ve previously reflected on it hereand here, but I wanted to take this amazing story further than before.

I hope that you’ll journey with me as I explore unbelievable developments in the expansion of Christianity in the Middle-East.

Reliable reports suggest more Muslims have become followers of Jesus over the last two decades than in Islam’s combined 1,500 year history. Based on the accounts of several missiologists, it has been surmised that “more Muslims have committed to follow Christ in the last 10 years than in the last 15 centuries of Islam.”[1] In spite of great difficulty and turmoil, Christianity is unquestionably expanding throughout Islamic world. God is up to something amazing in a region that many have thought was unreachable.
 
Rosenberg’s Insights Into The Middle-Eastern Revival 

Joel Rosenberg, an Evangelical researcher, author, and resident of Israel has documented the recent upsurge of Christianity in the Middle-East. Through first-hand reconnaissance, coupled with reports from Arabic nationals, Rosenberg demonstrates that Christianity is rising rapidly in the world of Islam. 

Admittedly some of the following statistics have shifted in the aftermath of the Isis and other violent demonstrations against Christians. Those who follow Jesus have been slaughtered and have experienced severe persecution in this region. Nevertheless, Joel Rosenberg’s observations provide a window into many amazing developments.

Some of the particulars can certainly be debated, but in many of the Mediterranean nations, Christianity is making extraordinary inroads. Though the subsequent conversion figures are impossible to confirm, even in their imprecision, they provide a snapshot of what’s transpiring in the Middle East.

Full article here

Reflection on James 2:1-17

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Scripture
Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.

Observation
To give attention to the rich at the expense of the poor is a sin. It shows our judgement is guided by evil motives.

To break one of God’s laws makes us as guilty as the person who breaks all of the laws. When we interact with others we must show mercy in order to receive mercy from God.

Faith is not real unless it shows itself in good works. Abraham’s faith was counted to him as righteousness at the point where he prepared to sacrifice his son. His faith was shown in costly obedience to God.

Application
Faith is more than a belief about God. James reminds us that even the demons know about God, but they are not saved.

True faith comes out in the actions of a life transformed by Christ. That is not to say that christians never sin. No, we are on a journey from sin to holiness.

True faith is about trusting in Jesus for all things. It results in a different way of thinking and of living. No more are we motivated by the kind of selfishness that causes us to ignore the poor or that condemns people who are not in our group.

True faith leads us to express love to other people regardless of their social standing, to put others’ needs ahead of our own.

Prayer
Let my faith be shown in a life transformed by your love, Jesus. Amen.