I’ve been listening to some old Podcasts of Stand to Reason. This particular one comes from February 19, 2006, and Greg Koukl was interviewing J.P. Moreland about the recent outpourings of signs and wonders in many parts of the world. He said heaps of things that were such a boost to my confidence and faith – God is really doing some fabulous things in many parts of the world!
In the Muslim world particularly, he told of how God has been visiting people in their dreams. People are dreaming of Jesus telling them that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and that they should seek Him. The impact has been dramatic! In one example, a missionary was standing in the marketplace in Indonesia when a Muslim man walked up to him and said that he had seen him in a dream last night, seen him wearing that very jacket, and that he was to ask him about God. He led him to the Lord right there in the marketplace! This was just one example – he gave many, and this wasn’t even the most astonishing!
I strongly recommend you download the Podcast from here (register for free and log in) and listen. It starts about 1hr 10 mins in. It really shows that if we seek, we shall find!
1 comment:
God truly works in mysterious ways! That Westerners (including Aussies and Kiwi) usually disregard or even discredit the signs, wonders, dreams and miracles seen by Easterners is very telling of the health of our faith.
We are usually so biased against superstitions or "primitive mysticism" in favor of science that any reports of wonder are viewed as almost savage.
I personally know several Iranian and Iraqi Christians who have fled their country to come here to Japan seeking religion sanctuary (they had a hard time getting in America...) When asked what transpired in their life that persuaded them to convert and risk their lives (and their families'), the prevailing answer is dreams. Muslims seem to give a lot of weight to dreams. (A good thing to pray for if you know any Muslims, perhaps.)
One fellow in particular has a great testimony - but it is his to tell. He has asked not to disclose it - it seems perhaps when he has shared it in the past with Americans or Europeans, etc, they cease to take him seriously.
Visions are also very prevalent in Africans testimonies as well. The number of mystical accounts is alarming - and particularly that when told, are believed and influential in others converting as well - to many Westerners, and a joy! But sadly, they are often regarded with a patronizing eye.
This certainly deserves more than one post and we may wish to continue this thread in more detail later, but I assure you, it is a telltale sign of a dying faith among the West. We all seem to be named Thomas. (Funny, he was the one that went to the East...)
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