“In a city in Egypt, a Christian woman we will call Eman received an invitation around November 1994 that made her tremble with fear.

“‘Is this a trap?’ she wondered.

“She had been asked to pray for a sick woman at the home of a devout and influential Muslim leader. The ill woman knew Eman to be a Christian, and Eman knew that most Muslims recognize Isa (Jesus) as a healer. But Eman had no idea what she was getting into.

“Feeling a little like Ananias being sent by God to pray for Saul, the enemy of the early Church, Eman drove to the home of the Muslim leader, whom we will call Mohammed Ibrahim. After a short time at the house praying for the woman, Eman hurried back to her car, eager to make her escape. To her horror, Ibrahim followed her out. He forced himself into her car and shut the door.

“‘I have something very important to tell you,’ he said in a low voice.

“Eman’s heart pounded as she listened, every nerve on guard. Ibrahim confessed in strictest confidence that he led an underground fundamentalist Islamic group pledged to destroy all the Christian churches in that city.

“‘But the week before last, I was visited in the night by a very moving vision,’ he revealed. ‘Isa appeared to me in my bedroom as a bright white figure. He showed me the wound holes in His hands and feet. He spoke and said, “I have shed My blood also for you. I want you to build My Church, not to destroy it.”‘

“Ibrahim paused. ‘I was so transformed by this vision that I decided to become a follower of Isa al Masih [Jesus the Messiah].’

“Eman’s shock only grew deeper.

“Ibrahim went on to explain that he had recounted his vision to his group, and to his astonishment all 150 people agreed to follow his decision. The members, already underground, now committed themselves covertly to advance the work of the Church. Eman, filled with wonder, hardly had words to express her praise for God’s glory.

“Stories like this indicate that God Himself is orchestrating events towards the goal of fulfilling the Great Commission. God has mandated our involvement in the work, but His sovereign power determines the outcome. In the words of Jonathan in 1 Samuel 14:6, ‘Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.’

NOTE: This is an excerpt from The Move of the Holy Spirit in the 10/40 Window by Luis Bush and Beverly Peques (pages 140 – 141).