As-Salaam-Alaikum
00:00:40.24\00:00:41.89
to our Muslim
brothers and sisters,
00:00:41.92\00:00:44.08
shalom to our Hebrew cousins,
00:00:44.11\00:00:46.92
and peace be upon you
our Christian friends.
00:00:46.95\00:00:49.99
Welcome to "The
Descendants of Abraham."
00:00:50.02\00:00:53.56
On our program today
we have a special guest,
00:00:53.59\00:00:57.13
a young man, who is
going to share with us
00:00:57.16\00:00:59.54
his journey to
discovery of the God of Abraham.
00:00:59.57\00:01:04.86
I'm sure, you will be encouraged
00:01:04.89\00:01:08.48
and blessed by the story
00:01:08.51\00:01:12.43
that he is going
to share with us.
00:01:12.46\00:01:14.38
At this time I'd like to
welcome Anwar to the show.
00:01:14.41\00:01:19.40
Anwar, thank you
for being with us.
00:01:19.43\00:01:21.64
As-Salaam-Alaikum.
Walikum Salam.
00:01:21.67\00:01:23.70
Thank you so
much for joining us.
00:01:23.73\00:01:25.11
It's a privilege to be here.
00:01:25.14\00:01:27.03
Why don't you share with
us a little bit of your story
00:01:27.06\00:01:30.32
of growing up as a Muslim?
00:01:30.35\00:01:33.30
Okay, well I grew up
in a Sunni Muslim family.
00:01:33.33\00:01:38.72
You know, we did normal things
00:01:38.75\00:01:40.67
that Muslim you
know children do.
00:01:40.70\00:01:42.97
I went to the Masjid. I learned.
00:01:43.00\00:01:46.01
you know, about
all the traditions
00:01:46.04\00:01:48.57
and ways of praying and
I, you know, learned to read,
00:01:48.60\00:01:51.79
you know, the Quran in Arabic
00:01:51.82\00:01:54.80
and I had a, you
know, fairly normal life
00:01:54.83\00:01:58.49
growing up as a Muslim child.
00:01:58.52\00:02:01.12
Ah, my family is you
know, very close, you know
00:02:01.15\00:02:04.86
and very loving and
so you know, I grew up,
00:02:04.89\00:02:11.03
you know, there
wasn't much wrong
00:02:11.06\00:02:13.23
when I was growing up. I
had a fairly happy childhood.
00:02:13.26\00:02:17.13
A normal Muslim childhood
that most of us grow up in.
00:02:17.16\00:02:20.82
And what was your relationship
with God like at that time?
00:02:20.85\00:02:26.05
Well, I learned
lot of things that God,
00:02:26.08\00:02:32.14
you know, we had
to do a lot of things,
00:02:32.17\00:02:34.69
you know, in
order to please God.
00:02:34.72\00:02:37.69
And I learnt
mostly God was more,
00:02:37.72\00:02:41.66
He was out there, He was
far, He was really unknowable.
00:02:41.69\00:02:46.05
And it's and it's actually
00:02:46.08\00:02:50.69
a lot of things
you know started,
00:02:50.72\00:02:52.52
you know, as I got
older started to develop
00:02:52.55\00:02:54.36
and started really troubling me.
00:02:54.39\00:02:58.34
I was raised also by
my aunties and my uncles.
00:02:58.37\00:03:01.61
And I'll never forget
when I was 9 years old,
00:03:01.64\00:03:05.61
my uncle told me,
you know, he told me
00:03:05.64\00:03:07.94
that I had two angels
sitting on my shoulders. Yes.
00:03:07.97\00:03:10.90
One wrote the good deeds I did
00:03:10.93\00:03:12.51
and one wrote
the bad deeds I did.
00:03:12.54\00:03:14.45
Now on the Day of Judgment
00:03:14.48\00:03:15.86
if I did more good
deed than bad deeds,
00:03:15.89\00:03:18.76
you know, I would
enter a paradise or heaven.
00:03:18.79\00:03:22.07
And even at 9 that troubled me
00:03:22.10\00:03:25.13
because, I knew God
could see everything
00:03:25.16\00:03:28.40
I did, everything I
thought, it's everything.
00:03:28.43\00:03:32.08
And I knew and I had
the lot of misgivings
00:03:32.11\00:03:35.17
about whether I
would go to heaven or not
00:03:35.20\00:03:37.09
and that frightened me.
00:03:37.12\00:03:39.25
Right, yeah, I remember
those times in my own life,
00:03:39.28\00:03:43.81
the two angels
and the deeds, and so.
00:03:43.84\00:03:46.03
Yes, I can understand,
00:03:46.06\00:03:47.62
I can relate to
that about being afraid.
00:03:47.65\00:03:50.01
But, you know, why
were you afraid that,
00:03:50.04\00:03:53.73
you know, that God is seeing,
He is looking at the deeds.
00:03:53.76\00:03:57.76
Why would you be afraid?
00:03:57.79\00:03:59.68
Well, the reason I
was afraid which is--
00:03:59.71\00:04:04.05
you know God, you know,
being judging and all knowing
00:04:04.08\00:04:08.61
and I just thought
that he was very judging.
00:04:08.64\00:04:10.35
And that you know in a sense
it was hard to go to heaven.
00:04:10.38\00:04:16.44
And I always thought, felt
00:04:16.47\00:04:18.75
and thought that he
was going to punish me.
00:04:18.78\00:04:21.86
I thought you know
actually I was talking
00:04:21.89\00:04:23.12
with the very punishing God.
00:04:23.15\00:04:26.14
He was in a sense
you could say capricious.
00:04:26.17\00:04:29.32
You know, He was
essentially out to get me.
00:04:29.35\00:04:34.26
Right, right, just waiting.
00:04:34.29\00:04:36.59
Yeah, just waiting, just
waiting for me to mess up
00:04:36.62\00:04:39.08
and there was a lot
of times I messed up.
00:04:39.11\00:04:40.85
Right, and don't we all. Yeah.
00:04:40.88\00:04:42.74
And I remember the same thing,
00:04:42.77\00:04:44.01
he's just
waiting for us to mess up
00:04:44.04\00:04:46.92
and that would be it.. Yes.
00:04:46.95\00:04:51.15
There was no chance
of heaven or paradise.
00:04:51.18\00:04:55.86
And, you know, even
there were times like
00:04:55.89\00:04:58.10
when I was younger I was so.
00:04:58.13\00:05:02.44
You know, I was, I
was actually so scared
00:05:02.47\00:05:05.96
because that would actually--
00:05:05.99\00:05:07.61
there was a couple of
times when I was younger.
00:05:07.64\00:05:09.66
You know, I tried to fast
because in Islam they have to be
00:05:09.69\00:05:13.37
in the month of
Ramadan the 30 days of fasting.
00:05:13.40\00:05:15.99
And there were two instances,
where I actually broke my fast
00:05:16.02\00:05:21.09
and I didn't tell anybody.
00:05:21.12\00:05:23.00
And I thought God was
for sure going to punish me.
00:05:23.03\00:05:25.41
And it actually, for
the next year of my life
00:05:25.44\00:05:28.92
everyday I woke up just in fear.
00:05:28.95\00:05:31.88
And I really kind
of developed pattern
00:05:31.91\00:05:33.82
in my life of always
living in fear. Right.
00:05:33.85\00:05:40.51
And how long did you
really follow this God.
00:05:40.54\00:05:45.55
How long, did you stay in Islam
00:05:45.58\00:05:48.14
and you know--
Where you contented?
00:05:48.17\00:05:52.28
No, I wasn't contented.
00:05:52.31\00:05:54.56
And as a matter of
fact the older I got,
00:05:54.59\00:05:57.83
the angrier I got.
00:05:57.86\00:05:59.80
By the time I was a teenager
00:05:59.83\00:06:02.52
I wanted
nothing to do with Islam
00:06:02.55\00:06:06.47
or my people, I was angry.
00:06:06.50\00:06:09.69
You know, and I just
couldn't believe that,
00:06:09.72\00:06:12.07
you know, this angry
God could really exist.
00:06:12.10\00:06:15.10
So essentially I became
an agnostic. Interesting.
00:06:15.13\00:06:18.20
Yeah and so you know
probably by that time I was 16,
00:06:18.23\00:06:22.64
you know, I
really started to rebel,
00:06:22.67\00:06:26.08
you know,
against everything I knew
00:06:26.11\00:06:27.93
and everything I was thought
00:06:27.96\00:06:29.17
because it was just, I
couldn't live up to it.
00:06:29.20\00:06:32.29
And, you know, I
started using drugs
00:06:32.32\00:06:35.25
and alcohol and
my hate and my anger
00:06:35.28\00:06:39.05
really just took over my life.
00:06:39.08\00:06:40.73
All that fear that caused hatred
it just took over my life.
00:06:40.76\00:06:43.74
Got the better of
you. Yeah, at that point.
00:06:43.77\00:06:46.84
And you think that this was all
00:06:46.87\00:06:49.91
because you were
trying to please a God
00:06:49.94\00:06:51.85
that could not be pleased.
00:06:51.88\00:06:53.57
Initially in the
beginning yes, yes. Okay, okay.
00:06:53.60\00:06:57.78
How did you come
to know about Christ?
00:06:57.81\00:07:01.41
You know your
journey to that point.
00:07:01.44\00:07:06.35
By that time I was 19.
00:07:06.38\00:07:08.66
And the alcohol, you know,
it gotten the better of me.
00:07:08.69\00:07:12.28
I knew I couldn't
keep living my life
00:07:12.31\00:07:14.12
as I was in the
complete darkness
00:07:14.15\00:07:17.74
and despair, you know.
00:07:17.77\00:07:19.30
God had actually
used all those bad things,
00:07:19.33\00:07:23.89
the alcohol and everything
to put me into a place
00:07:23.92\00:07:29.92
where I was so despairing
that I knew I needed something.
00:07:29.95\00:07:33.72
You know, I was willing
to look at this point for God
00:07:33.75\00:07:38.78
and you know,
growing up as a Muslim.
00:07:38.81\00:07:42.89
I was taught a lot of things
00:07:42.92\00:07:44.21
and one of
things I was taught is,
00:07:44.24\00:07:46.29
you know, especially
about Christians as you know.
00:07:46.32\00:07:49.62
They worship three gods
and later I come to understand
00:07:49.65\00:07:53.52
what I was taught
was incorrect. Okay.
00:07:53.55\00:07:56.33
You know, Christians
do not worship three gods.
00:07:56.36\00:07:59.23
And so I actually I used
to make fun of and scoff,
00:07:59.26\00:08:04.03
you know, at
Christians and their religion.
00:08:04.06\00:08:05.69
But at this point of my
life I was pretty desperate
00:08:05.72\00:08:09.18
and God had put a
Christian man in my life.
00:08:09.21\00:08:11.26
And the first time, you
know, he put, you know this man,
00:08:11.29\00:08:15.12
when I actually
started to listen to him.
00:08:15.15\00:08:17.34
He would talk, you know,
00:08:17.37\00:08:18.93
because he went
through hard times too.
00:08:18.96\00:08:20.49
And he would talk
about what Jesus said
00:08:20.52\00:08:22.71
and what Jesus did.
00:08:22.74\00:08:24.13
And he would tell me
what Jesus did in His life.
00:08:24.16\00:08:26.81
And it started to make
sense, things started to click.
00:08:26.84\00:08:29.84
And I could tell, you
know, that this man had faith
00:08:29.87\00:08:32.36
and this faith he
had worked for him.
00:08:32.39\00:08:36.20
And he would, he
would talk about Jesus
00:08:36.23\00:08:39.39
so much, I
finally, you know sometimes
00:08:39.42\00:08:41.42
I would spend the night
00:08:41.45\00:08:43.45
and I would spend
the night on his couch.
00:08:43.48\00:08:45.91
And I would read his Bible.
00:08:45.94\00:08:48.09
And I loved it so
much. I got my own Bible.
00:08:48.12\00:08:52.33
And you know I
still at this point
00:08:52.36\00:08:54.13
you know, I was a student I
lived at home with my parents.
00:08:54.16\00:08:58.40
And you know I
was, I was scared.
00:08:58.43\00:09:01.62
You know, I was always scared
00:09:01.65\00:09:02.78
that my dad will find out
that I was reading the Bible.
00:09:02.81\00:09:04.79
That you have a Bible, yes.
00:09:04.82\00:09:05.85
So late at night
what I would do is
00:09:05.88\00:09:07.60
I would actually hide
underneath my coverage,
00:09:07.63\00:09:09.83
hide the Bible underneath my
coverage and I would read it.
00:09:09.86\00:09:12.31
So that if anybody came in
00:09:12.34\00:09:13.78
and I could just
put it down. Right.
00:09:13.81\00:09:16.17
And nobody would know.
00:09:16.20\00:09:18.73
The thing that
the reason I loved
00:09:18.76\00:09:21.93
reading the Bible so much is
00:09:21.96\00:09:23.62
essentially the words of
Jesus impressed me so much.
00:09:23.65\00:09:27.79
I have never heard anything
00:09:27.82\00:09:30.64
like the words of
Jesus in my whole life.
00:09:30.67\00:09:34.87
And, you know, so it
just meant a lot to me.
00:09:34.90\00:09:39.33
Okay, you know,
you mentioned about
00:09:39.36\00:09:43.20
not wanting your
parents to find out
00:09:43.23\00:09:44.87
that you're reading the Bible.
00:09:44.90\00:09:46.29
I know I went
through that, I was--
00:09:46.32\00:09:48.38
we're afraid to pick the Bible.
00:09:48.41\00:09:49.99
We're afraid to look at
it because we're told up
00:09:50.02\00:09:52.30
like you said
about the three gods
00:09:52.33\00:09:54.55
and that the Bible
is corrupt and so on.
00:09:54.58\00:09:57.71
So we are afraid to let
them see us read the Bible.
00:09:57.74\00:10:02.65
How has your life changed
00:10:02.68\00:10:05.23
since accepting the
teachings of the Bible?
00:10:05.26\00:10:10.19
Well, before I talked
about how it has changed.
00:10:10.22\00:10:13.35
I want to talk about
something in particular. Sure.
00:10:13.38\00:10:16.26
About Jesus and
the saying of Jesus
00:10:16.29\00:10:18.14
and how this
transformed me. Right.
00:10:18.17\00:10:21.50
In Matthew 6, Jesus,
He says a lot of things
00:10:21.53\00:10:25.47
and these things
were profound to me.
00:10:25.50\00:10:28.23
See I was thought,
it's okay an eye for an eye,
00:10:28.26\00:10:31.27
a tooth for a tooth
and that's okay. Right.
00:10:31.30\00:10:33.22
I was taught that.
00:10:33.25\00:10:34.47
Jesus said, it's not okay
00:10:34.50\00:10:36.98
what Jesus said is
when somebody strikes you,
00:10:37.01\00:10:40.72
turn the other cheek
00:10:40.75\00:10:42.53
or when somebody
steals your coat,
00:10:42.56\00:10:45.97
go the extra mile
and give him another one.
00:10:46.00\00:10:49.42
And He also said
you know, when you pray,
00:10:49.45\00:10:54.43
pray into, you
can pray in secret.
00:10:54.46\00:10:56.23
Don't pray so
everybody can see you
00:10:56.26\00:10:57.58
but pray in secret.
00:10:57.61\00:10:58.98
See, it has to do
with the relationship
00:10:59.01\00:11:01.98
that I have with God.
00:11:02.01\00:11:03.51
See, I pray when I pray
I'm sincerely talking to God.
00:11:03.54\00:11:07.38
I actually have a relationship
00:11:07.41\00:11:09.73
with the Creator of the
earth, the one who created me.
00:11:09.76\00:11:12.68
I'm in relationship with Him.
00:11:12.71\00:11:14.19
I'm praying and
I'm talking to Him.
00:11:14.22\00:11:16.00
Directly to Him. And
He talks back to you.
00:11:16.03\00:11:18.00
And He talks
back, amen. Yes, yes.
00:11:18.03\00:11:21.11
You also
mentioned that you found
00:11:21.14\00:11:25.14
the Book of John in the Injeel,
00:11:25.17\00:11:26.62
the Book of John 1, interesting.
00:11:26.65\00:11:29.34
Can you tell me a
little bit about that?
00:11:29.37\00:11:30.91
Yeah, I was telling you earlier
00:11:30.94\00:11:32.81
that it was
difficult for me to understand,
00:11:32.84\00:11:36.42
you know, the
trinity because, you know,
00:11:36.45\00:11:38.53
I always been taught that
Christians worship three gods.
00:11:38.56\00:11:42.52
And in the Gospel of
John in the first chapter,
00:11:42.55\00:11:46.36
it explains it so beautifully.
00:11:46.39\00:11:49.16
It says in the beginning,
00:11:49.19\00:11:51.39
what's the word,
the word was with God.
00:11:51.42\00:11:53.61
I'm not going to
do for obeying him
00:11:53.64\00:11:55.86
but you know, this
word that is talking about
00:11:55.89\00:11:59.80
it was the word of
God, which God spoke
00:11:59.83\00:12:03.15
when the
universe came into being,
00:12:03.18\00:12:05.63
He just spoke it.
00:12:05.66\00:12:06.89
Now there is no difference
between God and his word.
00:12:06.92\00:12:10.54
He is His word.
00:12:10.57\00:12:12.43
And then it goes on to say,
00:12:12.46\00:12:13.97
how His word became
flesh and dwelt among us.
00:12:14.00\00:12:18.50
And that word that became flesh
00:12:18.53\00:12:20.26
and dwelt among
us was Jesus Christ.
00:12:20.29\00:12:24.22
He was fully
human and fully God,
00:12:24.25\00:12:26.14
this is what the Bible says.
00:12:26.17\00:12:28.73
And that to me was so profound
00:12:28.76\00:12:32.39
and it made so much sense.
00:12:32.42\00:12:35.60
And so that really impacted you.
00:12:35.63\00:12:37.11
Oh, absolutely, absolutely
00:12:37.14\00:12:39.43
because, you
know, at this point,
00:12:39.46\00:12:42.13
you know, in my
studying, in my journey,
00:12:42.16\00:12:44.99
you know, I came to understand,
00:12:45.02\00:12:46.91
you know that,
you know, Jesus being
00:12:46.94\00:12:48.61
fully God and fully human.
00:12:48.64\00:12:52.08
There was only see--
00:12:52.11\00:12:54.36
when I talked about
my rebellion and my hate
00:12:54.39\00:12:57.07
but that's what you know
the Bible calls sin. Right.
00:12:57.10\00:13:00.99
And, you know,
that sin was in my life.
00:13:01.02\00:13:03.49
And God, you know, I come
00:13:03.52\00:13:05.40
to understand he
is very holy God.
00:13:05.43\00:13:07.92
And, you know, He
wants relationship with us.
00:13:07.95\00:13:12.84
But He can't if, you
know, we don't accept Him,
00:13:12.87\00:13:20.33
because, you know, the
fact that He is a holy God
00:13:20.36\00:13:23.08
and He cannot be around sin.
00:13:23.11\00:13:25.32
You know, sin cannot enter
His presence. That's right.
00:13:25.35\00:13:28.70
You know, on the Day of Judgment
00:13:28.73\00:13:29.87
if we have sin in our life,
00:13:29.90\00:13:31.55
He will cast us in
the outer darkness.
00:13:31.58\00:13:33.95
You know we
growing up as a Muslim
00:13:33.98\00:13:35.51
everything was
about works. Right.
00:13:35.54\00:13:38.62
And I couldn't do enough.
00:13:38.65\00:13:42.12
And that's difference between
00:13:42.15\00:13:44.80
the big difference between
Islam and Christianity is that
00:13:44.83\00:13:48.11
I just couldn't do enough.
00:13:48.14\00:13:49.17
You know, now in Christianity
Jesus goes on the cross,
00:13:49.20\00:13:54.39
takes my punishment for my sin
00:13:54.42\00:13:57.56
that I committed and He
takes that upon Himself.
00:13:57.59\00:14:02.58
And God pours His wrath
out on Him instead of me.
00:14:02.61\00:14:07.17
And so He died for my sins.
00:14:07.20\00:14:09.14
And henceforth
does that make you feel
00:14:09.17\00:14:10.76
because you know, we,
you know, we grow up in Islam
00:14:10.79\00:14:14.32
and I'd never
heard of a forgiving God.
00:14:14.35\00:14:20.03
I never heard of a
God that forgives my sin
00:14:20.06\00:14:23.47
or you know, we
hear of a merciful God
00:14:23.50\00:14:27.51
but I never really
saw a merciful God.
00:14:27.54\00:14:31.17
So you know when you look
at the God we grew up to know
00:14:31.20\00:14:38.35
and the true God of Abraham.
00:14:38.38\00:14:41.17
What are some of the
difference that you see?
00:14:41.20\00:14:45.18
Well, first of all, primarily
00:14:45.21\00:14:46.86
forgiveness
unmerited forgiveness.
00:14:46.89\00:14:49.00
Forgiveness I did not
deserve because I sinned.
00:14:49.03\00:14:51.86
The Bible says, when I sinned
00:14:51.89\00:14:53.97
I sinned against God
and only God. That's right.
00:14:54.00\00:14:57.96
You know, there is
nothing I can do it
00:14:57.99\00:15:00.40
to merit His forgiveness
00:15:00.43\00:15:02.43
and there is nothing I can
do it to merit eternal life.
00:15:02.46\00:15:06.36
He has given that
to me. It is a gift.
00:15:06.39\00:15:10.00
It is a gift of grace by God
00:15:10.03\00:15:12.77
and God alone
through Jesus Christ.
00:15:12.80\00:15:15.73
And how does that make
you, you feel toward Him?
00:15:15.76\00:15:21.24
I can't put in the words.
00:15:21.27\00:15:25.60
I just, I can't
put it in the words,
00:15:25.63\00:15:27.43
it makes me feel.
00:15:27.46\00:15:28.97
I couldn't even describe it,
00:15:29.00\00:15:30.06
I mean wonderful obviously. Yes.
00:15:30.09\00:15:33.50
You know, I want to
tell everybody about Jesus
00:15:33.53\00:15:37.15
and I tell a lot of people
about Jesus. That's right.
00:15:37.18\00:15:40.26
And He means so much. Yeah.
00:15:40.29\00:15:43.00
How, since you have
discovered this Jesus.
00:15:43.03\00:15:49.14
How has it changed you
life in some other ways.
00:15:49.17\00:15:53.62
Well, first of
all, I understand God
00:15:53.65\00:15:57.15
as a loving God, He loves me.
00:15:57.18\00:16:00.23
And I understand that
through the concept of the cross
00:16:00.26\00:16:03.28
that He loves me.
00:16:03.31\00:16:05.91
And the other
things that's changed is
00:16:05.94\00:16:07.73
I'd actually have a
personal relationship with God.
00:16:07.76\00:16:11.23
I read the Bible
daily, I love it.
00:16:11.26\00:16:14.83
You know, it's
just like God He just,
00:16:14.86\00:16:17.29
He keeps telling me things,
00:16:17.32\00:16:19.02
revealing things
to me about Himself.
00:16:19.05\00:16:21.57
All I want to know is God.
00:16:21.60\00:16:24.14
That is the most
central part of my life
00:16:24.17\00:16:26.89
and almost the only.
00:16:26.92\00:16:28.11
Everything else
you know the Bible says
00:16:28.14\00:16:31.86
"Seek ye first
the kingdom of God
00:16:31.89\00:16:33.82
and the rest will be added."
00:16:33.85\00:16:36.20
So since I'm seeking God,
00:16:36.23\00:16:37.83
I'm going after
God with the passion.
00:16:37.86\00:16:40.26
Because of what
He has done for me
00:16:40.29\00:16:42.45
and in that seeking
00:16:42.48\00:16:44.15
He just keeps
revealing Himself to me
00:16:44.18\00:16:46.04
and revealing more and more
00:16:46.07\00:16:47.36
and more of His love, His mercy.
00:16:47.39\00:16:49.85
You know, even the
passion He has for me.
00:16:49.88\00:16:54.30
You know that's
wonderful I see it in your eyes.
00:16:54.33\00:16:56.36
I see it in you face.
00:16:56.39\00:16:57.42
I see that love and
that passion for Him in you.
00:16:57.45\00:17:02.64
And that wasn't there before.
00:17:02.67\00:17:06.84
Absolutely not, absolutely not.
00:17:06.87\00:17:09.33
What do you
think it's different?
00:17:09.36\00:17:10.39
I was an empty shell. Uh-huh.
00:17:10.42\00:17:12.89
I was an empty shell.
00:17:12.92\00:17:14.09
And, you know, and I was
also like I said full of hate.
00:17:14.12\00:17:20.42
I realized after
reading the Bible
00:17:20.45\00:17:26.36
and just seeing what
the love of God looks like
00:17:26.39\00:17:30.11
and actually how
much He care for me.
00:17:30.14\00:17:33.38
I came to understand that
I saw my sin for what it was.
00:17:33.41\00:17:39.23
So and so what I
did, you know, I repented.
00:17:39.26\00:17:42.43
I turned from my sin
00:17:42.46\00:17:44.01
and I put my
trust in the Savior,
00:17:44.04\00:17:47.64
in Jesus Christ on
His work on the cross.
00:17:47.67\00:17:51.74
Isn't that a wonderful thing.
00:17:51.77\00:17:52.80
Not my work-- Not your work.
00:17:52.83\00:17:54.64
Nothing that we can do,
nothing that we can do. Yeah.
00:17:54.67\00:17:57.84
To earn the
salvation. But He has done it.
00:17:57.87\00:18:03.26
Does your family know
that you're Christian now?
00:18:03.29\00:18:05.90
Well, you know, my dad he
is the head of the family.
00:18:05.93\00:18:09.33
You know, coming from
a patriarchal society.
00:18:09.36\00:18:11.70
He is the head of the family.
00:18:11.73\00:18:14.60
I have been a
Christian now for 13 years.
00:18:14.63\00:18:18.50
And when I was about,
00:18:18.53\00:18:20.91
you know, four
years into my journey.
00:18:20.94\00:18:23.21
I told my dad I sat
him down and I said dad.
00:18:23.24\00:18:25.94
I'm the follower of Christ.
00:18:25.97\00:18:28.40
And in so many
ways and he still does.
00:18:28.43\00:18:31.40
He knows that but
he denies it. Right.
00:18:31.43\00:18:35.10
You know, one of those things
he doesn't want to talk about,
00:18:35.13\00:18:37.73
he never wants to talk about it.
00:18:37.76\00:18:40.86
And you have tried
talking to him. Yeah.
00:18:40.89\00:18:43.34
Was he angry,
upset. He was angry.
00:18:43.37\00:18:45.94
He was angry, he was very upset.
00:18:45.97\00:18:47.87
You know, he thought,
00:18:47.90\00:18:49.17
he thought I was
being brainwashed. Right.
00:18:49.20\00:18:51.41
But I wasn't being brainwashed,
00:18:51.44\00:18:52.84
as matter of fact, only
the Bible led me to Christ.
00:18:52.87\00:18:56.90
Right. To the
true God of Abraham.
00:18:56.93\00:19:00.25
Yeah and only, you know,
00:19:00.28\00:19:02.02
God's word is the
inherent word of God.
00:19:02.05\00:19:04.24
And it speaks, it's
the only book that I read
00:19:04.27\00:19:09.57
that actually read my
heart back to me. Yes.
00:19:09.60\00:19:13.34
I have heard and said that God,
00:19:13.37\00:19:15.78
the Bible and the word is
00:19:15.81\00:19:18.69
God's thoughts made
audible. Absolutely.
00:19:18.72\00:19:21.96
So what you're saying,
it speaks back to us. Yes.
00:19:21.99\00:19:25.62
You know, it's not
just the one way worship
00:19:25.65\00:19:29.04
or one way relationship.
00:19:29.07\00:19:30.98
Absolutely, you know, there is
this saying that I have heard.
00:19:31.01\00:19:34.90
It's--if you want to
hear the audible voice of God,
00:19:34.93\00:19:37.37
open up the Bible
and read aloud. Yes, yes.
00:19:37.40\00:19:42.37
You told me little
bit about your dad.
00:19:42.40\00:19:45.27
What is he doing now?
00:19:45.30\00:19:46.99
You said, he is
still in the community.
00:19:47.02\00:19:51.60
Yeah, he is
still in the community.
00:19:51.63\00:19:54.18
He is very active in
the Islamic community.
00:19:54.21\00:20:00.09
And a leader. Yes, and
he is a leader as well.
00:20:00.12\00:20:02.91
He is still a leader.
And he still loves you.
00:20:02.94\00:20:06.39
And you know what he does.
00:20:06.42\00:20:07.97
He does as a matter of fact,
00:20:08.00\00:20:11.48
you know, a lot
of, you know Muslims
00:20:11.51\00:20:15.75
get ostracized by their family.
00:20:15.78\00:20:17.67
But, you know, God
has actually blessed me
00:20:17.70\00:20:20.01
because my family
still loves and accepts me.
00:20:20.04\00:20:24.18
But the change, the
change is undeniable. Yes.
00:20:24.21\00:20:27.64
The change that
Christ has done in my life,
00:20:27.67\00:20:29.61
it's undeniable.
00:20:29.64\00:20:31.54
And that can be a
witness to them. It is.
00:20:31.57\00:20:34.02
To the family as they see it.
00:20:34.05\00:20:36.26
They will
question it. Absolutely.
00:20:36.29\00:20:38.41
And wants to know more.
00:20:38.44\00:20:41.36
If--and let me ask you
what would you like to say
00:20:41.39\00:20:47.11
to our brothers and sisters?
00:20:47.14\00:20:50.22
I'd like to say
00:20:50.25\00:20:51.38
probably the most
important thing I can say.
00:20:51.41\00:20:54.64
And this was told
to me when I was 14.
00:20:54.67\00:20:56.52
I didn't like it very much.
00:20:56.55\00:20:57.86
It was actually
from a Christian man
00:20:57.89\00:21:01.64
and you know and but
I heard what he said.
00:21:01.67\00:21:05.31
He told me, and then I
want to tell everybody else.
00:21:05.34\00:21:09.26
The ones who
have accepted Christ
00:21:09.29\00:21:13.30
and they put
the trust in Christ.
00:21:13.33\00:21:17.79
If we're not sure who God is,
00:21:17.82\00:21:21.01
when you lay your head
on your pillow tonight.
00:21:21.04\00:21:23.23
It doesn't
matter if you're married
00:21:23.26\00:21:25.02
or you're not married
but you're there alone
00:21:25.05\00:21:27.31
and you're there
alone and God is listening.
00:21:27.34\00:21:33.00
Ask God who are you truly
because He wants to tell you.
00:21:33.03\00:21:39.47
He wants you to know.
00:21:39.50\00:21:42.08
And pray that you
have ears open to listen
00:21:42.11\00:21:44.53
to what He has to tell you.
00:21:44.56\00:21:47.17
And the ones who are on
the fence who know that--
00:21:47.20\00:21:51.20
See Jesus said, "I'm the
way, the truth in the life."
00:21:51.23\00:21:54.89
And nobody enters you know,
00:21:54.92\00:21:57.27
nobody comes to the
father except but through me.
00:21:57.30\00:21:59.78
And the people who know
that and are still on the fence,
00:21:59.81\00:22:03.73
they want to live
their life their own way,
00:22:03.76\00:22:05.23
do their own things.
00:22:05.26\00:22:06.72
My words would be to them
is to repent of their sins.
00:22:06.75\00:22:11.06
Turn from their sins and
put their faith in Christ
00:22:11.09\00:22:13.75
right now because
tomorrow is not promised.
00:22:13.78\00:22:16.53
That's right. Thank you.
00:22:16.56\00:22:18.08
You know, you mentioned
repentance quite a few times.
00:22:18.11\00:22:22.30
Did you hear about repentance
00:22:22.33\00:22:23.93
when you were
growing up as a Muslim?
00:22:23.96\00:22:25.57
Did you hear that word
much? Did you understand?
00:22:25.60\00:22:30.99
You know, I
didn't, I didn't really.
00:22:31.02\00:22:36.10
Yeah, I know I didn't.
I didn't hear about that.
00:22:36.13\00:22:39.82
When you, you know when I sin
00:22:39.85\00:22:42.48
when I was growing
up it was in the book.
00:22:42.51\00:22:46.05
It was you know
it was in the books
00:22:46.08\00:22:48.35
and that was that.
There's no going back.
00:22:48.38\00:22:50.56
Right, there's no,
there's no way of erasing it.
00:22:50.59\00:22:53.56
And that's a
horrible way to live.
00:22:53.59\00:22:55.73
And that's what
got you to that point.
00:22:55.76\00:22:59.69
Are you happy now
with Jesus in your life?
00:22:59.72\00:23:04.05
You know, I'm
and one of the truth
00:23:07.81\00:23:14.92
I have come to understand
it's, if it's not being about,
00:23:14.95\00:23:20.88
it's not about
being happy you know.
00:23:20.91\00:23:23.23
And we're fulfilled or you know,
00:23:23.26\00:23:26.84
what kind of car you drive,
00:23:26.87\00:23:27.90
what kind of money
it's not about that.
00:23:27.93\00:23:30.68
It's about
following that one true God
00:23:30.71\00:23:32.99
and only peace comes through
Jesus Christ, true peace.
00:23:33.02\00:23:38.95
You know, I thank
you so much for coming
00:23:38.98\00:23:43.85
and sharing your story with us.
00:23:43.88\00:23:47.11
I know that are lot of
people will be blessed by this
00:23:47.14\00:23:51.82
and the way you have
encouraged them to search,
00:23:51.85\00:23:59.02
search for the true God
00:23:59.05\00:24:01.45
and He will find
you if you seek Him.
00:24:01.48\00:24:05.31
Anything else you
would like to share
00:24:05.34\00:24:07.62
before we close the program.
00:24:07.65\00:24:10.65
It's just been a
really, real blessing,
00:24:10.68\00:24:13.11
you know, to be
here and it's, you know,
00:24:13.14\00:24:15.05
like I said it in the
beginning, it's a privilege.
00:24:15.08\00:24:17.81
Anytime I get to
share about Jesus,
00:24:17.84\00:24:21.42
it's a privilege.
00:24:21.45\00:24:22.88
Because you know
there is point in my life
00:24:22.91\00:24:24.66
where you know I
didn't want to live, you know.
00:24:24.69\00:24:29.88
Okay, well, you know,
thank you so much, Anwar, again.
00:24:29.91\00:24:34.60
I'm blessed by
your story, really.
00:24:34.63\00:24:38.25
And I hope you'll come back on
00:24:38.28\00:24:43.20
and share how
your life is going.
00:24:43.23\00:24:45.94
And we can pray
that we can bring Jesus
00:24:45.97\00:24:50.60
to the rest of
our families. Amen.
00:24:50.63\00:24:53.36
And they too can join us
00:24:53.39\00:24:56.21
following the
true God of Abraham.
00:24:56.24\00:24:59.37
When you get to the
Descendants of Abraham,
00:24:59.40\00:25:01.87
you can be sure that
you're lighting the way for all
00:25:01.90\00:25:05.02
in search of the Creator God
00:25:05.05\00:25:07.13
and His message of love
and forgiveness to all nations.
00:25:07.16\00:25:10.58
Thank you for your
support and for your prayers.
00:25:10.61\00:25:14.22
All contributions
are tax deductible.
00:25:14.25\00:25:16.65
Please visit us online today
00:25:16.68\00:25:18.25
at www.descendantsofabraham.org
00:25:18.28\00:25:22.19
or write to us at the address
you see listed on your screen.
00:25:22.22\00:25:25.56
All correspondence
will be kept confidential.
00:25:25.59\00:25:30.25
The holy word of God tells
us that we should continually
00:25:30.28\00:25:34.41
offer the
sacrifice of praise to God.
00:25:34.44\00:25:38.14
That is the fruit of our lips,
00:25:38.17\00:25:41.75
giving thanks to His name.
00:25:41.78\00:25:44.78
But do not forget
to do good and to share
00:25:44.81\00:25:49.10
for which such
sacrifices God is well pleased.
00:25:49.13\00:25:55.14
I would like to
thank Anwar for doing
00:25:55.17\00:25:57.76
just that today by
sharing his testimony with us
00:25:57.79\00:26:01.92
of what God has
done in his life.
00:26:01.95\00:26:04.65
You know, it's
one of those things,
00:26:04.68\00:26:06.92
you know, when
something good happens,
00:26:06.95\00:26:08.55
you want to
tell it to everybody.
00:26:08.58\00:26:10.49
It's just like, you know.
00:26:10.52\00:26:12.40
When I, you know, met my wife
00:26:12.43\00:26:14.19
and I got married
my beautiful wife.
00:26:14.22\00:26:16.42
You know, I wanted to,
you know, I wanted to take her
00:26:16.45\00:26:19.03
around to everybody to
show and now God has saved me
00:26:19.06\00:26:22.40
and it's hard for me not
to shout it from the rooftops.
00:26:22.43\00:26:25.86
Amen. Thank you so much.
00:26:25.89\00:26:27.27
You know it's also,
00:26:27.30\00:26:28.81
you know, like a
parable Jesus talks about.
00:26:28.84\00:26:32.21
If a man finds a
treasure in a field
00:26:32.24\00:26:34.42
he sell all that he
has and buys that field.
00:26:34.45\00:26:37.46
Yes, and that's
what you're doing.
00:26:37.49\00:26:40.10
That's exactly what I'm doing.
00:26:40.13\00:26:42.48
Praise God, praise
God. Thank you so much.
00:26:42.51\00:26:46.57
Well, we still have a
couple of minutes here to
00:26:46.60\00:26:51.64
in the program left.
00:26:51.67\00:26:52.71
I would like you to
please go to our website
00:26:52.74\00:26:56.40
at www.descendantsofabraham.org.
00:26:56.43\00:27:00.96
You will find
some resources there
00:27:00.99\00:27:03.45
that you can look at
00:27:03.48\00:27:04.86
and some more
information and contact us.
00:27:04.89\00:27:07.59
All the correspondence
is kept confidential.
00:27:07.62\00:27:10.00
Please, feel free to contact us.
00:27:10.03\00:27:12.76
And join us again next week
00:27:12.79\00:27:14.50
as we continue to
reveal to his descendants,
00:27:14.53\00:27:19.11
the true God of Abraham.
00:27:19.14\00:27:22.65
Thank you again
for being with us.
00:27:22.68\00:27:25.74
May you be blessed.
00:27:25.77\00:27:27.61