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MAY 2004 PRAYER FOCUS

Today (Saturday, March 27, 2004) possibly was the most significant day we have seen in nearly 12 years of living in the Middle East. To everyone’s shock and surprise, The Passion was released today here in Qatar. Just a few days ago when Natalie prayed for it to come to Qatar in our prayer meeting (we knew it was opening in the United Arab Emirates in about a week), I honestly had no faith whatsoever that her prayer would be answered. You have to realize that until now we have only been able to show the Jesus film in Arabic to a handful of Qataris in the secret of a home setting.  In the coming weeks, potentially 10’s of thousands of Arab Muslims will see this powerful portrayal of Christ’s suffering and death. Today at 4:30 pm our entire team went to see the film. Since all of us have heard many different reactions and responses to the film, I won’t add very much to that discussion here. 

However, I don’t think anybody who has seen this film saw it in a theatre that was 1/2 full of Gulf Arab Muslins – both men and women. In two short hours, more Qataris heard the Gospel than I have been able to reach in nearly 5 years of living here. The Arabic subtitles were completely accurate – they didn’t water ANYTHING down or change any language that Muslims would not agree with. All of us watched the film in absolute amazement in what God had done.  The Muslims sitting around us were being moved – gasping, crying and reacting with disgust to the brutality that Jesus faced. Now – if you have heard anything about why the Arab Muslims would want to see the film, you know that it is because they ‘heard’ it was anti-Jewish and since they hate the Jews, they want to see it.  How interesting that God is using the film to communicate the Gospel and the very opposite spirit that might be motivating them to do and see it.  The message to LOVE YOUR ENEMIES, and Jesus, praying for them to be forgiven while on the Cross would hit the Muslim theatre-goers in a powerful way.

Just as Satan surely felt that he was winning when Christ began to suffer, ultimately it was the plundering of his house and his complete defeat. Muslims are going to see this film because of their hatred and in the end, the message they will hear is to             LOVE. Is it not just like God to do something like that? They mean it for evil, and God means it for good! Below is an excerpt from an article that was run today in the local newspaper.

“INTERNATIONAL blockbuster film The Passion of Christ will have a multiple release in Doha today.  Qatar is to be the first country in the Middle East to screen the film.” There is yet another motivation that Qatar had in releasing this film and that was to be “the first country in the Middle East” to show the film.  Qatar is trying to change its image and portray itself as a tolerant Muslim country. Little do they know that this film is exposing their people to many truths that their faith categorically denies. (The Sonship of Christ, the Fatherhood of God, the Atoning Death of Christ for the sins of the World, and of course the commandment to “Love your enemies”.)

Please pray for these urgent requests:

*That this film will be allowed to be shown for a significant period of time.  It is being shown in 3 different theatres, up to 4 times a day. Fundamentalists will surely be in an uproar about this unprecedented event. Just when we thought Satellite television was going to be the most significant way for the Lord to sow the seeds of the Gospel, this film arrives in Muslim nations!

*That this film will cause a major shaking and stirring in the hearts of Qatari Muslims leading them to salvation.

*That God will lead us to men and women who have been/will be impacted by this powerful film.

I know this is a bit of a side note, but I have heard there are people who are disturbed by the violence in this film hearing it is excessive. I find it ironic that these same people will have flocked to movies like Platoon, The Killing Fields, Saving Private Ryan and/or films like Silence of the Lambs and then bypass a film about the only suffering that has ever made sense – Christ’s suffering on their behalf. There is no way a person can walk out of this film without a deeper revelation of the love of God for them.

Also mentioned in the article today:  “Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat watched the Passion of Christ  as a private screening in the West Bank city of Ramallah yesterday and said it was not anti-Semitic. He watched the film with Palestinian Muslim and Christian leaders at his headquarters in Ramallah.”                (From the internet)