Posted on 09/29/2009 7:00:57 PM PDT by tang-soo
Sept 29, 2009
Dear church,
Thanks for taking a few minutes to read this update regarding my time in Washington D.C for the events that took place on Thursday & Friday September 24-25. I appreciate all of you who were able to pray. The Lord clearly did great things that only He could have orchestrated. We are truly living in sober, yet exciting times!
On Thursday September 24’th, I arrived in Washington just in time to sit in on a very important press conference announcing the launch of what I believe is a very timely and important national movement called Former Muslims United led by Nonie Darwish. The goal of this courageous group is to educate the American Public regarding the all too often unreported plight and suffering that many Muslims who leave Islam go through. In light of Rifqa Bary’s current situation, the timing of the launch of this new movement could not have been better. I was honored to have been among many of these former Muslims who themselves have fatwas (religious rulings) calling for their deaths. They truly are courageous and I admire them for speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves.
Friday, September 25’th, was a historic day that approached with great expectation and concern. As you probably are aware, Muslims from across the country planned to descend on Capitol Hill to pray and declare that a new day for Islam in America had come. A new website promoting this event was set up which declared boldly that this was now ‘their time.’ They were expecting upwards of 50,000 to 100,000 people to come for their Jummah (Friday) prayer service on the grounds of the capitol. While this kind of a gathering might not seem like a big deal to some, I am convinced that the spiritual implications of a gathering of this magnitude could have been very significant. Scripture clearly states (Ephesians 6) that our real battle is not against people, nor is it physical in nature, but our struggle is spiritual and takes place in the spiritual realms.
From the moment I arrived on Capitol Hill, spiritually speaking, I could feel a strong sense of discouragement and heaviness. My heart broke as I scanned the faces of so many who needed to know and experience the person of Jesus, and who needed to be set free by the grace of God. I sensed the Lord directing me to two young Muslim men who were standing off to the side of a crowd of people near the steps of the capitol building. Even though by that time the Muslim prayer service had ended, they were praying (Muslim prayers) on their own. For some reason, I felt burdened for them specifically, and was directed to their area to pray for them.
I knew that the Lord had called me to make the trip to DC for some particular reason, so I simply prayed that He would accomplish all that He wanted to accomplish through me that day. First and foremost, I knew that I was there to pray. A friend of mine, however, had prayed very specifically that my testimony, or story of how I came to know Jesus, would be able to be shared with masses of people that day. I wasn’t sure how that could happen there given the logistics of everything, but God is a God who knows how to answer prayer in spite of all obstacles that we may face!
After these two men were done with their Muslim prayers, I was able to have a conversation with one of the two men that I was standing near. These two men were Americans who traveled from New York City to be apart of this event. After he learned that my name is Jamal, he assumed that I was a Muslim. This opened up an opportunity for me to share my story with him. After listening to my story, he walked away looking a bit disgusted and angry. I strongly sensed that I needed to stay in that area and pray however, so I did.
After some time I noticed a journalist of Middle Eastern decent, and his camera man, coming toward the two men that I had been focusing on. I immediately assumed that this was a Muslim journalist from the Middle East who was there to cover this event. After learning that these two men only spoke English, this Arabic speaking Journalist began conducting an interview with them in English. A few other men and women came over to this journalist and also joined in the conversation on camera as well. It looked pretty lively. I continued to pray, and I was stunned when I over heard what this Middle Eastern journalist was sharing with them.
As I stood and listened, I noticed that He was sharing the gospel of Jesus with them! He was talking about the reliability of the Bible with them. How could this be? I was amazed at the sovereignty of God! Now I knew why the Lord had directed me to that area to pray for those two men! As soon as they were finished, I approached this courageous journalist and thanked him for what he was doing. He assumed I was a Muslim, but after sharing with him that I was indeed a follower of Jesus, he asked me to share my story, my father’s story of coming out of Islam, and Rifqa’s story as well on camera. It was a very encouraging conversation in which I sensed the presence and power of God all around!
After the impromptu interview, I learned that this journalist was the executive director of a Christian channel that was the first Christian television channel that was given permission to broadcast on one of the largest Arab satellite networks in the Middle East! From previous trips to the Middle East, I was very aware of this satellite network that he was referring to. Basically, this network is heavily watched and covers the span of the entire Middle East region. He then asked me for my permission to broadcast this testimony on his station that would go into every home across the Middle East! I was stunned! This was the very specific answer to the exact prayer that was prayed for me regarding my testimony. This testimony of Jesus the Christ was broadcast with the masses in the Muslim world on the very day and place of the event that was supposed to declare that a new day for Islam had come to America! Can you believe it? God is amazing!
Out of the 50,000 to 100,000 Muslims who were expected to show up for this event, only an estimated 2,000 to 4,000 people showed up! Later that evening, I believe that I found out why so many Muslims did not show up, and why this event was not a success for them. Simply put, I believe that the Lord used the prayers of the awakening church to accomplish His victory! I know that I have talked a lot about the sleeping American church recently, but I am happy to report to you that not all the American church is sleeping!
That evening, a friend of mine invited me to a prayer gathering on Capitol Hill that was being held at a prayer house called JHOP (Justice House Of Prayer). There are several JHOP’s in strategic cities around our country. I have heard and admired the JHOP movement for some time now because of their commitment to pray 24 / 7 for justice related issues such as abortion, human trafficking, etc. JHOP on Capitol Hill is doing amazing work through prayer by praying 24 / 7 over our government and the decisions that it makes. There are congressional staffers who pray there regularly, and they hope to eventually be a place of refuge, so to speak, where politicians can come and pray and seek the face of God. It was an honor to finally be there to pray at a prayer service!
When we walked in to JHOP that Friday evening, it was packed with people praying and worshiping God. I was especially blessed that they took some time that evening to pray specifically for Rifqa Bary. It wasn’t just the fact that they prayed for Rifqa that encouraged me, it was the specific way that they prayed for her that confirmed so many things in my heart. On Thursday night, several national leaders like James Dobson, Lou Engle, Tony Perkins, etc... were on a conference call together to talk about Friday’s events. They called Rifqa and asked her to pray for them and the events of our nation. This was a very important conference call as it literally mobilized the prayers of hundreds of thousands of Christians who are not asleep or distracted, but who are awake to the heart of God! This led into the events of Friday, as well as the prayer service at JHOP that evening.
Since this situation began with Rifqa several weeks ago, my consistent prayer has been that the Lord would use her as a spark, or catalyst, to awaken the sleeping American church awake to the heart of God. Her passion and love for the Lord that has been cultivated through prayer and devotion to the sacred heart of Jesus is a story that needs to be told to provoke the rest of the church to jealousy. This has been the prayer of many, and that evening at JHOP, it was also the prayer there! It was as if everything that the Lord laid on my heart and spoke to me about weeks earlier, was now being prayed for by Christians all over the country! The Lord really is using all of this to awaken His bride!
I know that this in only the beginning. Scripture says that the closer we get to the return of Jesus, the darker it will get. But it also says that in the midst of all this darkness and trouble, this gospel of the kingdom will go out to the entire world as a testimony to all the nations. Then the end will come. (Matthew 24). The best truly is yet to come, and those who are awake will be a part of it! Are you ready?
For His glory in the church,
Jamal Jivanjee
www.illuminate-us.com
If you would like to view previous articles, you can access them by going to www.illuminate-us.com and clicking on the “writings” link.
Interesting to note only 2000 to 4000 attended the event. But the MSM did not report the numbers.
ping lists.
I am amazed!
This is the latest note from Jamal. Please pray for Rifqa Bary and the growing number of Muslim converts.
I have been praying for her, and I had no idea that there's a movement of Muslims towards Christianity. I'm so glad to hear this. Jamal provided a wonderful account. Very surprising low number of Muslim attendance.
END TIMES DREAMS VISIONS PROPHECY PING LIST PING
1ST LEVEL PING.
BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD.
BLESSED BE THE WORD OF THE LORD.
BLESSED BE THE WAYS OF THE LORD.
BLESSED BE THE AIMS OF THE LORD.
BLESSED BE THE DOINGS OF THE LORD.
HALLELUJAH!
MARANATHA!
I just wish that I had the faith of Rifqa Bary (a girl that is willing to endure the “death penalty”-of her family) and still not deny Christ!
i too had that thought many times. I prayed that if ever i was in that spot that Jesus would help me. I belive that Jesus answered me. that if Jesus ever lets be me be in that situation, he will give enough faith to do his will. Jesus will always provided for those who look to him. He gives us what we need each today. He didnt tell the dicisples the whole story from start to finish in one day, but gave them what they needed (or could handle) for each day. The same is true for us. Just believe, take him at his word....
Thanks for the ping!
bttt
Thank you. BTTT.
Thank you!
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