Exloring Life Eternal

Erland Nord forwarded some things that help reduce conflict / confrontation when they are presented right up front in dicussions. Perhaps these will help others as well:
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These things have been used to reduce the level of conflict initially (though this may or may not be the best way to approach things:)

A. INITIAL "INVITATION" FROM GOD:
Use the Quran 9:111 text: Allah (god, but no name) saves you if you give yourself to him to kill others. Quran 9:5: to force them to observe prayers to Allah until all the world gives in to Islam. Quran 8:39 permits all manner of war to be used in this.
VERSUS
Bible: Romans 6:23: Christ saves you to God (name: YHWH) by giving up His own life, body & blood, for your salvation ... this is a free gift.

B. SUBSEQUENT "SUBMISSION" TO THE LORD:
Allah then calls you to a life of slavery & evil in all forms of war & violence to enforce worship & submission to "Allah."
VERSUS
Christ saves you to a life lived in the freedom & power of the Holy Spirit, to love, & to self-discipline. We are reborn, being changed from the inside. (see John 3; Romans 5:1-5; Galatians 5:1, 6, 13, 22-26).

C. SO THEN:
According to Quran 9:111; 9.5; 8:39, evil pleases "Allah" so he will give you paradise if you give yourself to do evil & harm.
HOWEVER:
Only rightousness pleases the God of the Bible who saves (YHWH, Yeshua = The Lord Saves). For example, in Exodus 20 we see the Ten (10) commandments to be done (see also, Leviticus 18:5). This sacrifice had to be done by Jesus Christ to undo the devil's work (see Genesis 3:15; I John 3:8; Romans 7:13-25; 3:19-31)

D. WHAT IS THE BASIS FOR CLAIMING TO BE GOD & HAVING THE TRUE WORD?
Quran: we can't see God with our physical eyes to check.
Bible: we can go by Jesus' test: the deeds which are seen (John 10:38). We can also ask the one claiming divine power & authority to tell us what will be & what has been from the beginning to the end (see OT prophet Isaiah 41:21-24). In Deuteronomy 18:21-22, the tests include: a prophet is never false. They bear true witness (Deuteronomy 19:15). They direct people to the same God (Deuteronomy 13:1-3) ... thus there must be a correlation between what the Bible says about God & what the "prophet" says. There must be consistence & agreement, not discord (Jeremiah 28:7, 8, 9).

E. _WHO_ SHALL WE SERVE?
The "Allah" of the Quran gives no name, just a claim to being God.
VERSUS:
In the Bible, God is YHWH, Elohim, Adonai, El Shaddai, El Elyon, and many others. He is the Lord who Saves = Yeshua / Jesus. He is God With Us / Imm-anu-El. The Law, the Prophets, & Psalms prove the saving power of God & are preserved true.
Examples of fulfillment in the Bible:
On Christ / Messiah
- At the time of arrival, Roman governors replaced kings & tribes; thus the Kingship belonged to Jesus (Genesis 49:10).
- The place of birth was in Bethlehem (see Micah 5:2).
- The time of the Lord's death was prophesied in Daniel 9:24-26.
- The place of the death of Jesus was foretold in Isaiah 46:13: Jerusalem, Zion.
- The Name given is "My Salvation." Christ Jesus means "chosen salvation" or when interpretted, the Lord's appointed salvation & rightousness.

A Muslim may agree with you and yet not be telling the truth as to agreeing. Therefore, PRAY about these things & for the Lord Jesus to be honored. He is able.

Surah 9:111 (Allah makes a pact with you, exchanging you
for paradise, so he can use you to kill others)

Surah 9:5 (fight until they observe prayers)

Surah 8:39 (fight until all the world is under Islam)

Why?

This is contrary to Surah 2:256 (no compulsion in religion).

Why?

This murderous nature of the Quran is contrary to the 10 Commandments.

Why?

They have a "no-name" god: Allah (the god) instead of Jehovah, or Yahweh.

Why?

If the Quran confirms what went before, as Surah 3:3 says.

Why the contradictions?

And if there can be no change in God's word (Surah 10:64; 6:115)

Why the lack of consistency or improvement?

Sincerly in Christ,

Erland Nord

Dear Members,

I had some feedback concerning talk to Muslims about Christ crucified and His blood shed for our sin (Leviticus 17:11).

When they express their opinions as this being done by backward people, we might ask do you have any witnesses there on record who watched the crucifiction of Christ or who saw HIM raised again with holes in HIS hands & side.

Do you have any prophets or law before his time which don't agree and were witnessed as true concerning this event?

The Jew had this in their Law & Prophets but apparently were expecting a worldly king who would change everything with worldly power and so couldn't see around this to see that an "eternal kingdom" would be "of God" not man's (II Samuel 7:13, 16) which did not deal with man's sin and dis-relationship with God which the law and prophets showed and their history - a failure to do.

Messiah cut off but not for himself (Daniel 9:26, Isaiah 53:10); My servant the Branch (Isaiah 11:1, Zechariah 3:9,10) - finish sin in one day - Good Friday. It is hard to think of crucifying your Great King for your sin, but is on record: It is Written, was Jesus' way of handleing it (Matthew 4:1-11).

Sincerely in Christ,

Erland Nord

Ministry Epistle on Muslim Outreach: MEMO (Written by an elder brother in the ministry. Available for all who wish to be trained & learn by them.)

I suppose in talking about Jesus to anyone, we have to find where Jesus would make a difference in their life.

To a self-rightous person or someone who feels he can be righteous, or someone like a Muslim who feels that God continues to be gracious no matter what except that you have no other God than Allah, we may have to use law to show him that NOT everything that happens is God's will, and that his desires (coveting) represents another God.

That is why I mentioned Surah 9:111 (saved by killing) and 9:5 (do all manner of war to force prayers), & 8:39 (until all the world gives in to Islam). This indeed embaresses them. I am presently working this on 2 lay Muslims and one Imam. They want to run away, but eventually they will have to look at it. We are sinners, & lawless.

A former missionary said Dr. Miller said:

They apparently think that if they get rid of all unbelievers then they will have a perfect society. This former missionary indicated that we point out to them, it has never worked. We have only one hope - Jesus Christ. To describe Jesus more in terms of Luke 24:44-48 is wiser than to start by saying HE is God or Son of God. This directs us away from the real problem (sin) and the solution (Christ & how HE fullfilled the law & the Prophets) as witnessed. A Muslim will right away object and argue if we start saying Jesus God or Son of God. Law had to be done & sin paid for. (Romans 3:19-23, 26-31). Christ was appointed by God to do it for us & so fulfill the prophetic & legal witness. This is no mere opinion. (Isaiah 41:21-24; Deuteronomy 18:21-22; 19:15; 13:1-3; Jeremiah 28:7-8).

Another source of tracts might be (as least for this title: "For my Muslim friend"

Friends of Muslims
P.O. Box 6585
Wyomissing, PA 19610

FriendsofMuslims@hotmail.com (OR??)
Friends_of_Muslims@hotmail.com

internet resource: www.answering-Islam.org

Sincerly in Christ,
Erland Nord
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editted by Mert Hershberger

They may agree Jesus was here in flesh but deny the Father-Son relationship (I John 4:1-3, 15; 2:22-23).

In this kind of work, you are no longer dealing with a SAFE community, a Christian group, but you may notice the influence of a different spirit. In other words, they may end up trying to egg you toward their stuff by sheer persistence.

Could Muhammed be a prophet of God? Which passage are you looking at? (Surah 7:157). Might sound like Christ (John 7:15-16) & Muhammed says believe in the unlettered Prophet, but Muslims say this is Muhammed.

According to Surahs, 3:45; 4:171, Christ is Word, they say just "BE" created 3:54-56 God's plan to cause Jesus to die & raise HIM, (Metaphite-cause to die). They say, "Raise" just coincides with heaven in Surah 4:157.

In response to Surah 3:55, we might ask, How are is one ahead in the ressurection if he believes Jesus? They won't answer.

Does Surah 18:103-106 mean "Works won't save?" They say it doesn't
mean that.

In Surahs 14:34; 16:61, all mankind are sinners: they disagree or are suprised.

What is their Law & Gospel? Lie, steal, murder, rape, destroy, enslave, all evil you can do and more. (Will they tell you what their law is?)

The Gospel of Barnabas (written in 1200) depicts Christ as not crucified (But there were no witnesses to support this 'gospel' who were there in Christ's time) in agreement with Surah 4:157. The "Law & Gospel" are mentioned in Surahs 5:68; 7:157; 9:111.

Surah 9:111 - indeed edges you toward rejection of Muhammed as a Prophet of God.

In indicates that for your persons you get paradise with your persons you are to fight, slay, and be slain until all the world submits to Allah via Islam (see Surahs 9:111; 47:4-7; 9:5; 8:39 et al.)

This indicates that by breaking God's law (i.e. the 10 Commandments, et al) you will be saved. THIS IS THE EXACT OPPOSITE TO THE BIBLE: DO THIS & YOU WILL LIVE (Leviticus 18:5).

Their fruit is viscious. The devil is the "god" of this world (I John 5:19; I Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:3). This is _contrary_ to God who has revealed HIMSELF with many proofs (Isaiah 46:8-13; 41:21-24). He is the -true- God (Deuteronomy 18:21,22; 13:1-3 = YHWH ). Not merely Allah (a generic Arabic name for God, but no personal name), which would seem to be Satan by fruits) and witnesses to Christ of fullfillment (Deuteronomy 19:15) with consistence (l Jeremiah 28:7, 8) would not make sense (Luke 24:44-48).

Examples:
Muslims are killing and being killed, bombing & suicide bombing; fighting all over the world to get into heaven? (Examples: Malaysia, Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan, New York-World Trade Center & Pentagon; Beijing-China; Chechnya-Russia) under a "pact" they believe gives them paradise if they carry it out to all world. An Ethiopian told me that Muslims pushed 60 of his cousins off a cliff. Is this all done to get into Muslim heaven?

Presenting this to them may get them embarrassed enough to look at the law & their behaviour ... and consider Christ.

Leviticus 18:5 says "Do the law & you will live, so Christ had to do
this for us to redeem us from the power of the devil & sin & eternal
death & hell (Matthew 5:17-19; I John 3:8). And so sin is no longer
counted against us, and God's Holy Spirit renews us (John 3).

They also reject the crucifixion & resurection of Christ to redeem us. Again, the mark of the anti-Christ. (I John 4:1-3,15) Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died on the cross & shed HIS blood for the remission of sin & rose on the 3rd day, a "test" we might direct at a secret influence on us & then tell it to leave in Jesus name the next time it tries to work on us. Jesus Christ, Chosen for our Salvation was in the flesh.

By contrast, Christ gives us a free gift of salvation (Romans 6:23) and the Holy Spirit puts a new heart & mind against the old nature in us (Galatians 5:22-26). We are aware of our imperfection as Paul said (Philippians 3:12), and so we continue in Christ daily.

I thought it would be wise to mention this influence of Anti-Christ spirit which we need to pray against or command away in our evangelizing, "IN Jesus name," loss of friends & family is a great
deterent to Muslim conversion to Christ.

In their own contries to convert to Christ is a capital offence (death sentence), but probably would be carried out secretly to avoid government embarrassment.

80% of converts are killed, 70% go back to Islam.

Chosen People Ministry (a mission mostly operated by Christian Jews may also have tracts since they mentioned handing them out in one area)
Chosen People
Ministry
P.O. Box 897
Station B.
North York, ON M2K 2R1
CANADA
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Sincerely in Christ,
Erland Nord

For those dear saints of God & servants of the church who are interested in reading this,

Peace & grace in the name of our Father & our God & His Son, our Lord,

Today is still the day of the Lord's salvation. He has not stopped seeking out & saving those who are lost ... & He never will ... until the end of the age.

But the devil knows that his time is short ... so he gets a little agravated at times & tries to wreak havoc any way he can, through toe holds, snakes, scorpions, and beasts with more growl than glory.

Since the beginning of time, it has been the best & worst of times most of the time as wars & rumors of wars increase & as catastrophes continue even while the good news of God's glory goes abroad.

This past week there were 7 days. Every day, the sun did what it was told to do & the clouds obeyed the commands of God as well. He is keeping his promise to send harvest time ... and spring-time as well.

This past week or two has been filled with spiritual attack & blessings ... & the presence of Christ throughout.

Some difficulties which reveal out deep need for prayer:
= Curses against our family scrawled on the door to our apartment.
= Direct moral temptation from total strangers itself directed towards both of us (There is a delight in perversity in this area).
= Financial demands from one of the "brethren" who bestowed upon me the blessing that God would "put a few knots on my head."
= A family member who questioned the validity of sharing the message.
= A preacher who stated very distinct (& narrow) limits on how far he would help see the good news spread.
= A relatively new friend of mine (his muslim? wife is also Indonesian) was hospitalized for suicide / withdrawal symptoms (his neck has been broken for a couple years leading to great pain, but he loved to be reminded about Jesus' love & mercy over the phone).

But there have also been some huge open doors which only God could have
accomplished:

- A Nigerian brother who gladly took some materials to share with the brethren in Zambia (He is in Ann Arbor for another 1.5 weeks).

- A fellow who was deeply oppressed & recently affected by a grand mal seizure gladly listened to the good news ... & found some thoughts hopeful. A smile broke his previously blank face. PTL!!! "God, save David!"

- We have had some very good talks despite the busy days of getting settled a little-more.

- The rent is paid!! We have food & clothes & electricity!!

- A local brother was willing to hear my story out despite pressing demands on his time.

- A friend committed to regular support (very substantial support at that!)

- 2 days ago, while walking home, I picked up a sign. The next day, I took it to the owners (a hot dog store), they gave me a free frank. A small gift - they offered a temporary job & got the good news. But God regards even small things.

- Relatively good health & a decently working car.

- Wisdom to teach some kids learning English & math.

- The list could extend, but my time is limited. Not least of these is that all is ready for moving into the newly designated office except getting a key to the door. PTL, PTL, PTL!!

Some have mentioned that they would like to see some more creativity (i.e. I had not been sharing my thoughts/writing as much). God's word is still alive. I hope that some of the following thoughts will be an encouragement & refreshment to you. Feel free to share them with others.

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SHEEPISH THOUGHTS:
A shepherd sacrificed, & the shepherd was slain. (Gen 2)
A shepherd slew beasts & a brute, & the sheep stood up again. (1-2 Samuel)
The shepherds got rich, & the sheep were slaughtered. (Ezekiel)
The Shepherd was born, & the sheep were freed. (Luke 2)
The Shepherd was dyed, & the sheep were cleansed. (John 1)
The Shepherd spoke, & the sheep listened. (John 10)
The Shephered went out of the fold, & a lost sheep found safety. (Luke 15)
The Shepherd was slain, & the sheep were scattered. (Matthew 26)
The Shepherd stood, & the sheep were gathered. (John 21)
The Shepherd reigns, & the sheep are fearless. (Psalm 23)
The sheep may suffer, but the Shepherd shall surely save!! (Romans 8)

The Lamb leads on.
See: The sheep were twelve, eleven remained: the faithful endure.
(Revelation 12:11)

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Prayer with purpose can prevent persecution,
so love one another & all will be stronger & more secure.

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Perfect Love resisted leads to rebellion.
Rebellion persisisted leads to ruin.
Perfect Love received leads to righteousness.
Righteousness expressed leads to revival.
God is perfect love:
Repent & see revival or refuse & face His wrath.

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A LITTLE THOUGHT ON THE GLORY OF GOD
You have not seen the the Greatest if you have not seen to your last responsibility.
You do not love much if you do not love the least.
You will not live long later if you do not live just a little now.

The Infinite become Infanteseminal in Christ Jesus.

BUT GOD will show you Great & Mighty things if you look a little.
He can love you most, though He is loved the least.
He has given you eternal life if you live but the last moment for Him alone.

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An encouraging word received via email from a man called Grace in Africa: "I love your commitment!!" [To which I can only say, any commitment I have is only there because God made a commitment to love me.]

While we may be far away & not always the most neighborly of neighbors, thanks for remembering us as though we live next door. Your faithful prayers are like walls around us & incense within our home, sanctifying our hearts & preserving our heads.

Mert (with "Lydia")

P.S. If you will recall, Lydia was a woman from Asia who was a great help to Paul.