ISLAM IS ROOTED IN BITTERNESS

Islam is not a religion of peace as some make you believe. The violence and turmoil we see in the Middle East and around the world, the persecution and execution of Christians and the hatred for the Jews and Israel has its origin going back to the ancient time when God told Abraham, (Abram as his name was at the time) the following:

“Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:1-3 NLT

God gave Abram the promise of a son, when He told him:

“You will have a son of your own who will be your heir.” Then the LORD took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!” Genesis 15:4-5 NLT

God also gave Abram the promise of the land of Israel, when He made a covenant with him:

“I have given this land to your descendants, all the way from the border of Egypt to the great Euphrates River.” Genesis 15:18 NLT

“Then God said to Abraham, “Regarding Sarai, your wife—her name will no longer be Sarai. From now on her name will be Sarah. And I will bless her and give you a son from her! Yes, I will bless her richly, and she will become the mother of many nations. Kings of nations will be among her descendants.” Genesis 17:15-16 NLT

God’s promise to Abraham was directly connected to the land of Israel. It was to be fulfilled through his son, Isaac, the firstborn of Sarah through whom came the nation of Israel, the Jewish people, and the redeeming Savior to all people of the earth, Jesus Christ!

But then, Sarah, lamenting her barrenness, told Abraham to go in to her maid, Hagar, and conceive by her.

“Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not been able to bear children for him. But she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, “The LORD has prevented me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her.” And Abram agreed with Sarai’s proposal. So Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian servant and gave her to Abram as a wife. So Abram had sexual relations with Hagar, and she became pregnant.” Genesis 16:1-4 NLT

This child born to Hagar was Ishmael through whom the Arab nations came and, eventually, Islam and the greater Islamic world.

Immediately after Ishmael was conceived, Hagar began to despise Sarah. Sarah also despised Hagar because she had conceived a child by her husband. (See Genesis 16:5-6) After this, Sarah treated her so badly that Hagar attempted to flee. This enmity between Hagar and Sarah, because of Abraham’s very bad decision, is the beginning of all the enmity that exists to this day between their descendants.

It was during this time that the Lord sent an angel to give Hagar the following message:

“I will give you more descendants than you can count.” And the angel also said: “You are now pregnant and will give birth to a son. You are to name him Ishmael (which means ‘God hears’), for the LORD has heard your cry of distress. This son of yours will be a wild man, as untamed as a wild donkey! He will raise his fist against everyone, and everyone will be against him. Yes, he will live in open hostility against all his relatives.” Genesis 16:10-12 NLT

Fourteen years after the birth of Ishmael, Isaac is born fulfilling God’s promise to Abraham through Sarah. Ishmael begins mocking Isaac’s birth, so Sarah tells Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away. Abraham was greatly troubled by this, but God told him not to worry and to do what Sarah said, reminding him the promise was to be through Isaac. Ishmael was not to be heir with Isaac. However, out of His mercy, God also promised to make Ishmael a great nation because he was a son of Abraham too. (See Genesis 21:1-13) And it is from this nation that Islam eventually came.

A well-known author and teacher of eschatology, describes the biblical definition of Islam this way:

“So now we have this story: Ishmael and Isaac. Ishmael is a fourteen year old boy. He’s kicked out into the desert but the Lord is faithful. He preserves him. He promises to make him into a great nation. So we read these things and they’re interesting Bible stories but what I’m asking you to do is to put yourself in the position and recognize the fact that in history, in real time, this was a real boy… with real emotions, with a real life. This happened to a little kid named Ishmael. And so what we need to understand is you have this little boy and… he had a dad. He had a mother. He had a family. He had a life. He had an inheritance. And in one day he loses all of these things. He loses his dad. He loses his inheritance. He’s out in the desert. He’s on his own. And that brokenness, that woundedness, that rejection that took place in this little child, today, has been passed on into the religion of Islam.
What do I mean? … Mohammed, the founder of Islam… claims to be a direct descendant of Ishmael and Muslims, today, view themselves as both the physical and the spiritual descendants of Ishmael. And so here you have this story, this incredible event that took place in this child’s life. Two thousand six hundred years after these events took place, a direct descendant of Ishmael named Mohammed birthed forth a new religion into the world. And what does the religion teach? … It teaches God is not a father. God has no Son. And, thirdly, Ishmael, not Isaac, is the heir with regard to the promises of God to the earth. The very things that those issues of rejection and woundedness and brokenness that took place in Ishmael’s life were preserved in that line and two thousand six hundred years later, a man named Mohammed goes into a cave, has an incredibly dark encounter with some sort of spiritual being. It literally chokes the life out of him to where he feels as though he’s going to die, three times this presence comes over him and it demands of him to recite… On the third time, the words of the Qur’an begin to flow forth from his mouth.
Mohammed, himself, literally believed that he was demon-possessed. He was suicidal. He was terrified.”
After this, he runs home to his wife who eventually convinced him he was a prophet of God. This is the origin of Islam. In a spiritual sense, Islam is the broken, bitter cry of Ishmael.”

Therefore it important to pray for Muslims, the followers of the religion of Islam, and break this Ishmaeli generational curse of bitterness and anger over them, so they may be saved and understand the truth! Because there is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity, Jesus Christ! He gave His life to purchase freedom for everyone, including those from the religion of Islam! (See 1. Timothy 2:1-6)

YOU ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN

When you continue to follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Anyone living this sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God! (See Galatians 5:19-21)

Even if you claim to be a believer yet you indulge in sexual sin, or you are greedy, or you worship idols, or you are abusive, or you are a drunkard, or you cheat people, or you commit adultery, or you are a male prostitute, or you practice homosexuality, or you are a thief, you will not inherit the Kingdom of God! (See 1. Corinthians 5:11, 1. Corinthians 6:9-10)

When you keep on sinning, it shows that you belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God! (See 1. John 3:8-10)

Even if you claim to be living in the light and love God, but hate a fellow believer, you are a liar and still living in darkness! You do not know the way to go, because you have been blinded by the darkness! (See 1. John 2:9-11, 1. John 4-20-21)

If you love only those who love you and do good only to those who do good to you, and if you love your father or mother more than you love Jesus Christ, you are not worthy of being His; or if you love your son or daughter more than Jesus Christ, you are not worthy of being His. If you refuse to take up your cross and follow Jesus Christ you are not worthy of being His! (See Luke 6:32, Matthew 10:37-39)

THE BIBLE SAYS
That God’s true children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them! (See 1. John 5:18)

WHY GOD CHOSE MARY AND JOSEPH

God did not choose a loudmouthed, self-centered, complaining, manipulative and controlling woman to bear His Son Jesus Christ, but instead He favored Mary, a humble, submissive woman who was willing to do whatever God asked of her.

She had to travel while pregnant, and when there was no hotel available she was willing to allow her baby Jesus to be born in a barn without complaining and blaming her husband for not taking better care of her. (See Luke 2:1-7)

When an angel of the Lord appeared to her husband Joseph, a good man, (See Matthew 1:19) in a dream and told him to get up and flee to Egypt and stay there till King Herod who was searching to kill baby Jesus died, Mary obediently and humbly followed her husbands’ leading, and left her country and family. (See Matthew 2:13-23)

With Joseph and Mary, God set the example of what a godly marriage is supposed to look like!
By Edwin Christiaan

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CHANGE WHAT YOU DON’T ADMIT!

The Bible says that if you claim you have no sin, you are only fooling yourself and are not living in the truth. But if you confess your sins to God, He is faithful and just to forgive your sins and cleanse you from all wickedness! (See 1. John 1:8-9)

In other words, you need to be willing to sincerely admit your sins and mistakes in order to receive forgiveness and be healed, restored, and changed!

Jesus said; “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.” Luke 5:31-32 NLT

This means, that Jesus did not come for those, even if they call themselves Christians, who think they never sin or do anything wrong and instead blame everyone else for their own sinful actions! It is impossible to help such people!

Because, “If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that His word has no place in our hearts!” 1. John 1:10 NLT

For this reason, the Scriptures say to: “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results!” James 5:16 NLT

By Edwin Christiaan

CHRIST FOLLOWERS MUST ENDURE MANY TRIALS!

Jesus said; “Here on earth you will have MANY TRIALS and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NLT

So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure MANY TRIALS for a little while. These TRIALS will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through MANY TRIALS, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world!
1. Peter 1:6-7 NLT

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and TRIALS, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love!
Romans 5:3-5 NLT

So, don’t be surprised at the fiery TRIALS you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you!
1. Peter 4:12 NLT

You see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their Trials!
2. Peter 2:9 NLT

SUFFERING IS A MUST FOR EVERY TRUE BELIEVER!

Even though Jesus was God’s Son, He learned obedience from the things He suffered. In this way, God qualified Him as a perfect High Priest, and He became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey Him!
Hebrews 5:8-9 NLT

So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude He had, and be ready to suffer, too!
1. Peter 4:1 NLT

For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in His steps!
1. Peter 2:21 NLT

Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution!
1. Timothy 3:12 NLT

Even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats.
1. Peter 3:14 NLT

So, don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord!
2. Timothy 4:5 NLT

If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs.
1. Peter 4:15 NLT

Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!
1. Peter 3:17 NLT

So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for He will never fail you!
1. Peter 4:19 NLT

Since He Himself has gone through suffering and testing, He is able to help us when we are being tested.
Hebrews 2:18 NLT

So stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are!
1. Peter 5:8-9 NLT

GOD’S MANUAL FOR MARRIAGE

First of all, marriage according to God is only meant to be between one man and one woman. Jesus Christ made this very clear when He said; “That the Scriptures record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’ ” And He said, “‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ (See Matthew 19:4-5)

The husband and the wife are equal partners in God’s gift of new life (see 1. Peter 3:7) and therefore they submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. (See Ephesians 5:21)

The role of the husband is to be the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. This means that the husband must love his wife, just as Christ loved the church, giving up His life for her. The husband ought to love his wife as he loves his own body, feeding and caring for her, just as Christ cares for the church! For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. (See Ephesians 5:23-29)

The husband should never treat his wife harshly, (see Colossians 3:19) but he must give honor to her and treat her with understanding so that his prayers will not be hindered. (See 1. Peter 3:7)

The husband gives authority over his body to his wife and should fulfill his wife’s sexual needs. (See 1. Corinthians 7:3-4)

The husband has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how to please his wife. (See 1. Corinthians 7:33)

The role of the wife is to submit to her husband as to the Lord. The wife should respect her husband and as the church submits to Christ, she should submit to her husband in everything. (See Ephesians 5:22, 24, 33)

This means that the wife puts her trust in God and accepts the authority of her husband. Then, even if he refuses to obey the Good News, her godly life will speak to him without any words. He will be won over by observing her pure and reverent life. (See 1. Peter 3:1-2, 5)

The wife gives authority over her body to her husband and should fulfill her husband’s needs. (See 1. Corinthians 7:3-4)

The wife has to think about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband. (See 1. Corinthians 7:34)