Barry Meguiar 00:00
Welcome to the Ignite with Barry Meguiar podcast. How would you like to have the time of your life for the rest of your life? How would you like to defeat fear effortlessly, knowing for sure God is hearing and answering your prayers and directing your steps and making everything work for good? This is exciting. Here’s the question, How would you like to ignite your life? Stay tuned.
Welcome back to Ignite. We’re here with Hedieh Falco. She is this amazing lady. If you didn’t catch the earlier podcast with her, you might stop and go back and watch that one first. It’ll set the scene so you understand who this amazing lady is, and she is so amazing. Boy, you’re on Fox, you’re on Epic, you’re all over the place. You’re Jack Hibbs on his new show.That work? Yeah. I mean, you’re all over the place every time it seems like it turned on. I’m not joking. You’re getting a lot of play for obvious reasons these days. And then we’re going to go to, we have the sweetest, the Laker game. Thank you, Lindsey Snyder for In-N-Out Burger. And also you tell you so, you can’t go. You got to help up in Sacramento, and so you’re going up there. You got this guy running for governor. We have several candidates, but what’s his name? Steve Hilton. He’s a force, I must say, and he’s, he’s working on this. Talk about the coalition he has that he wants you to head up.
Speaker 1 01:27
Well, I’m supposedly, I don’t know when this is coming out, but I’m supposedly not supposed to talk about it until before Tuesday, before, before it gets launched.
Barry Meguiar 01:35
This won’t air. This, this will air later. You’re okay, you’re safe.
Speaker 1 01:38
So, it’s, it’s just exciting to be involved in in the effort to try to maintain the constitutional system of order in our country. And really, as a former Muslim, it is important for Muslims as well, because we want women and children and young men and old men and everybody to have the freedom of conscience to choose what they believe and what they don’t want to believe, and not have a fear of persecution, and in some cases, even death. We want a woman to be able to access civil courts when she’s going through a divorce, and to have custody of her children. And so the, the efforts across the country to kind of grapple with, how do we deal with Sharia? Now, Sharia is the entire corpus of Islamic law, so we’re not trying to ban a religion, we’re just trying to fine tune the areas in which it interacts with constitutional law and civil law, so that every American has a protection that this country is founded on, and whether it’s at this point in their life or later in their life when they will need those protections, that they don’t give up their rights inadvertently or by force.
Barry Meguiar 02:53
Yeah, well, well, we don’t get into politics, per se. It’s a call to righteousness. I’ve often said, I wish somebody within the Muslim community get up and shout the message, there is a God, and He loves you, you know. And here you are, and you have others with you but thank you for, what, for stepping into the, onto that stage, you’ve been a strong voice, it’s getting stronger all the time. But in the midst of all that, on a one on one basis, when we had dinner the other night you’re telling me how you could reach them pretty quickly, on a, on a, on a more basic level, I just tell them you, you kind of need to deal with Jesus. I love you. God loves you. But, but you see Jesus as coming back, and you, you see him as a good person or a prophet. But the problem is, in our Bible, may you can believe it, maybe not, but in our Bible, Jesus said, I am the Son of God, and no one comes to Father except by me, so that would say he can’t be a preacher or a prophet or a good person and also be the Son of God, so either he’s a complete liar or he’s a lunatic. So, you, as a Muslim have to, have to deal with this issue of Jesus. You can’t get away from it how you’ve been taught Jesus and how we understand Jesus is he said for himself that no man comes to the Father except through him, he’s the son of God so, that’s, I, even with that simplistic form I find almost every time they say, I never thought of that, you know, it doesn’t get them saved, but it stops them and I’m not arguing with them. I first off, we have to love them, no, we love them, don’t we, and that draws for whenever we’re sharing our faith. They just love on them, not to argue with them. Don’t condemn anybody. Just love on them, and then they can receive what you’re saying. So that’s the most basic, that’s about as far as I get. You take it way beyond that, so help me. I’m dealing with a Muslim he’s often, often a taxi driver. But whatever, I have these quality times with them and I want more, and I would suspect as much as I do it, I need more, probably most listening to us right now, I have not a clue, and perhaps even avoid talking to Muslims because they don’t know what to say. Help us, help us, help us have a comfort level and introducing Muslims to Jesus Christ.
Speaker 1 05:29
And so first, I want to preface the discussion saying that there’s dozens of different ways. So I’m not saying mine is the only way. I am just talking about my way, what, what God has put on my heart. And I actually don’t think any of them are wrong. It all depends on who you have in front of you.
Barry Meguiar 05:44
Sure. And quite frankly, as the Holy Spirit leads, exactly the Holy Spirit lead, I look at it, I have, I have a whole chest full of armament, you know, I can’t use it all, but it’s there available to me, then I’ll let the Holy Spirit pick up what I should use and put it in my mind at that time, and let the Holy Spirit guide our conversation, which you’ll do, you know, I mean, he promises he’ll give us the words to say. So, yes, of course. So just give us some tools that we can use, that we can select as the Holy Spirit guides us.
Speaker 1 06:16
So, what I, what I always like to do is to establish a rapport that’s not directly at Islam. So, I don’t start with Islam. I asked somebody, especially like with a taxi driver, or I’ve done this with appliance people, repair people that come into my house that I can censor from another country that may be Middle Eastern. So, I say, you know, what’s your name? Or what country are you from? When did you come here? Oh, what you know? Do you have your family with you? Did you go to school here? Basically, trying to establish a relationship and depending on how much time I have, the relationship building is creating this, this sense of, because they see my cross, so they have no idea that I used to be a Muslim. So, I’m going to leave that part of it aside, because that’s not going to be the context of most to be the contexts that are witnessing. But they assume that because you’re Western or American, there’s this hostility to them being a Muslim, and so they’re going to be a little bit guarded about saying they’re a Muslim. And so you just would have to ask, Oh, you know, are you a Muslim? Because that’s probably the last thing they’re going to confess. And if you are…
Barry Meguiar 07:23
I’m a Persian.
Speaker 1 07:25
Exactly. I’m an Arab. I’m a Syrian, you know what I mean? And say, Oh, wow, okay. And then, you know, you talk a little bit about that and say, but I’m really curious, are you a Muslim? And when they respond that yes, you say, Wow, that’s super interesting. I love talking to Muslims, basically to, to not let them think that you’re, you’re taken aback by that.
Barry Meguiar 07:46
Take their guard down.
Speaker 1 07:47
Get the guard down so that you can have a conversation and say, What I often like to lead with, especially depending if you have a short amount of time, is, oh, I’ve always heard that you have an understanding of Jesus in your holy book in the Quran, can you explain that understanding to me? And so basically, you’re having them lay out for you what they believe Jesus is a prophet, virgin birth, all of that, which gives you a chance to respond and say, Wow, that’s really interesting, it’s quite different than the Jesus of the Bible, would you mind if I tell you the Jesus of the Bible? And then they’ll, most likely, their response is, Sure, go right ahead.
Barry Meguiar 08:26
They do always. 100%
Speaker 1 08:28
Muslims love to talk about religion, and you know why? Is because oftentimes they think they’re going to convert you. So there’s this kind of this misconception and oftentimes a reality, that Christians don’t really know their faith or they’re not willing to defend it and so immediately the response is, Okay, let’s talk about religion, because I’m going to attack yours, and it’s like your Bible is corrupt, and Jesus never said he was the son of God. Those are the two most prominent ones. And so it’s really important you’re able to watch, you know, some of these YouTube 60 seconds videos to just, to say why the Bible is not corrupt.
Barry Meguiar 09:09
It is about developing a relationship, always. You do that first, and you don’t go forward until you have a relationship, so that it becomes jovial. You can see them melt. You can see them relax and they’re enjoying the conversation. Absolutely. Once you get in that place, how do you take the next step? What do you say at that point?
Speaker 1 09:27
So once you express who Jesus of the Bible is, and the difference is about him being the Son of God and being God incarnate and dying on the cross, which are the three elements that a Muslim doesn’t accept, usually the response is, even if they’re not like theologians or deeply devout, is, Oh, well, but the Bible’s been corrupted, or Jesus never said himself that he was the Son of God, and so it’s really important for Christians to be able to defend the Bible. So, you have to just come up with a couple of elevator talking points for that’s actually not correct. There is more historical and archeological evidence for the defense of the Bible than any other document in history. In fact, if you know of any inconsistency, please tell me what that is. You know, but it’s, it’s very disarming, because a lot of Christians freeze when they hear that, because they feel like they can’t defend the Bible.
Barry Meguiar 10:28
So there’s also the, you know, the Bible kind of predates just a touch the Quran.
Speaker 1 10:35
Yeah, of course, of course. And that the Quran was compiled over a 100 years after Muhammad’s death, and for the Bible, it’s within 30 to 60 years after Jesus’s death. And just there’s an honesty test about the fact that it is account of people who did some pretty embarrassing things, and yet they still put it in the Bible. Peter’s behavior, Paul’s behavior, and that, why would people be willing to die for a lie? And so the martyrs of the faith and the martyrs of the writers of the Bible is part of what we call the honesty test. So there are some great YouTube videos about, you know, the authenticity of the Bible. So I really suggest people to check those out. GotQuestions.com is also a great resource.
Barry Meguiar 11:24
We just, our audience tends to be, I have to say, Ignite America is face sharing for dummies, okay?
Speaker 1 11:32
You have those resources too.
Barry Meguiar 11:34
So because most don’t have time to go into a piling really, they get fatigued just with the thought. So that’s why we keep it pretty simple and it is a simple message, God loves you. But how do we express that in ways that a Muslim can at least start to contemplate the fact that there is a God of heaven who actually loves them. Of course, I know you’re gonna be talking about what happens after death.
Speaker 1 12:07
Yeah. And so you’re addressing the issue of Jesus and you’re addressing the issue of the Bible, but eventually you want to get to the point of your testimony, because even if you guys quibble back and forth about who Jesus is in the Bible, you say, you know, it’s just, I’ve had a miraculous experience walking with the Lord and just knowing that Jesus loves me, having eternal security of where I go when I die, and whatever other personal testimony you have about what it’s meant to you to walk with the Lord. And so by sharing that testimony you give, nobody can criticize your personal experience. It gives you the opportunity to leave the him or her, to think about what’s their relationship been in Islam. And you could ask that and say, you know, what is it like when you pray? Do you feel God’s presence? When you send prayers, do you hear a response? And if they say, Well, no, because Allah doesn’t talk to creation, or, No, I haven’t had that experience, and say, Well, you know, that’s really extraordinary, but we have the Holy Spirit who speaks to us, and it’s really this amazing experience. And so it’s basically just turning it back to your personal lived experience.
Barry Meguiar 13:19
The personal relationship, having this personal relationship, and knowing always that we’re, we’re living in God’s promise we’re going to live forever in Heaven with joy. That’s our assurance. We know it for fact. Yes. And that, that definitely has an impact on them is their view. Talk about their view of heaven, right.
Speaker 1 13:41
Right. So, for a Muslim, it is, it’s a balance of deeds. In other words, actually the way the Lord describes the Great White Throne Judgment, where you will go and present your deeds, Islam has a version of that, where God has a scale, Allah has a scale, and they will go and their deeds will be weighed to decide where they end up. And so it’s this very traumatic thing. It’s one of the things that I made it very difficult for me in Islam, was that this scale that I didn’t know what direction it was ever going to tip, and I think it’s such a great evangelical tool to anybody, is that God is just and perfect. So do you think you’re good enough to get into heaven by just your deeds? Because that’s really the message of the gospel, is that no one is good enough. There is no one not righteous, not one. And so it’s the same thing for a Muslim and say, Well, do you really think you’re going to get in on that scale? And they say, Well, I hope so. And say, Well, you know, that’s, that’s the price that Jesus paid. That was the whole purpose of the cross.
Barry Meguiar 14:45
Yeah. So it’s settled. They never know if it’s settled. They never know where they are on that scale.
Speaker 1 14:52
Right. And that, this, they thought that, you know, they criticized that why would God come in flesh, and then why would he need to die. Right? And that’s at the crux of it. Is he said the need to die was so that creation would have a path of assurance, because God so loved the world He gave His Son. And what was the purpose of that is because otherwise we would never reach eternity in heaven with, with our Savior because we were not capable of it on our own because of the sin, and that it’s a completely foreign concept to Muslims, because, contrary to what most people believe, they don’t really know about real Christianity. I had never heard the gospel until I watched it on YouTube. And mind you, I attended interfaith events for 20 plus years at the highest levels. So I met reverends and bishops and priests and all over the country in meeting after meeting, and no one’s like, Hey, Hedieh, have you ever met Jesus? Do you know who Jesus is? Nobody. So it’s really, really important that you’re willing to just drop a seed. You’re just planting a thought, an inspiration, a conviction, and don’t worry about the results. The, the increase comes from God. We, you know, he’s responsible for the ultimate outcome. You know, you just want that person to look back and be like, I remember when that person told me all of these amazing qualities of Jesus, and you know, one day it bears fruit.
Barry Meguiar 16:25
Yeah, the power that we have as individuals. On the large scale, you have the academic community of the Christian church, and you can have all the pontifications and the, and the scriptures and the proclamations and all this, none of which it’s just, it’s information, but it’s, it’s not redemptive. And then a Christian comes and says, But as you’re saying, on a personal basis, He loves me, He loves you.
Speaker 1 17:01
I was in a in a restaurant, and I saw this Afghan man with his mother, and I said, and I just sat down, Hey, where you from? From Afghanistan. He’s like, Why? What about you? And I said, I’m Persian, actually. And so we just started chit chatting about Afghanistan, because I spent some time I lived in Afghanistan, and we talked about the war and stuff. And I said, you know, Have you ever met Jesus? And he’s like, he’s like, No, why? And I said, Well, you know, I’ve had this radical guy I met Jesus on YouTube, and I was like, after spending so many years in Islam, it’s really changed my life. It’s been an amazing experience. And I had no idea what his response was going to be. He might be like, You’re an apostate, you’re crazy, get out of my face. But he was like, You know, I think that’s a really interesting thought. I’ve been thinking a lot about that. Wow. Who knew? Wow. You know. And it just led to a longer conversation. And I just, it’s scary, you know, it’s scary to go out on a limb and say something and you have no idea how it’s going to be received, but either way, you have, you are blessed by God for doing it, no matter how closer he is.
Barry Meguiar 18:08
So the typical. Can you give us an insight into the mindset, not the jihadists, not those that are bent on demonstrating and hating us and all that, but the typical Muslim in America who really has good thoughts. Where are they? Can you just, can you give us an insight into their mind and their opportunity, their inquisitiveness about Christianity? Where, just, you know what I’m saying? I mean, and they are, they are servers or waiters, they’re, I see a lot of taxi drivers or Uber drivers, whatever, I have these moments with them. I got 20 minutes with it. What do I say? So, the typical. Is there a typical type of thing you could give us?
Speaker 1 18:57
It’s really hard to stereotype, because, for example, your taxi driver could be very devout, so it maybe, as compared to somebody you may meet in business who’s pretty secular, and it also depends on what country they’re from, because a lot of times South Asians, Pakistanis and Indians much more religious than, let’s say, a Persian or an Iranian, so it kind of depends based on their own upbringing. But one thing that is that is pretty common, as I mentioned, is they’re open to talking about religion, like about religion. Yeah, it’s, it’s usually a safe bet. Now, as soon as you say, Have you met Jesus? Or you know, what is your understanding of Jesus? They may be quick to try to shoot you down, but don’t be afraid of that. Don’t be afraid of that. Stand up for what you believe and again, explain it as your own testimony.
Barry Meguiar 19:54
And with the soft voice, not in anger. Right.
Barry Meguiar 19:58
There’s a way to say things that, that are disarming, even if you’re not agreeing over them.
Speaker 1 20:03
Yeah just be like, you know, I know Muslims think that, but this has been my experience, you know, and always, and every time I get in a pickle, like, where I feel like it’s not going anywhere, I always say to them, Hey, you know what? Don’t take my word for it. Pray, you’re, you’re a sincere worshiper, you believe in God.
Barry Meguiar 20:25
Yes. What countries? When you ask them, what country they’re from, what countries, from what countries would they be, where they would be more open to the Gospel?
Speaker 1 20:34
Iran, Persians, for as we’ve discussed, sometimes Turkey, a lot of them could be very secular. What else? African Americans, sometimes they are Muslims because their parents were, so remember, in Islam very different than Christianity, you, I mean, different than what’s supposed to be in Christianity, but you’re born into Islam, and so that’s why it’s so difficult to leave, because you’re culturally by generations a Muslim. I mean, even I was raised secular without any religion when I wanted to become religious in front of religion, God, my dad was like, go to Islam, and I was like, What? Why Islam? It’s a cultural tradition, and that’s why it makes it so difficult to leave. But for African Americans a lot of their experiences, their parents came to faith in Islam through the Malcolm X movement. So it’s back in the 60s, back in the 70s, and they may not have a relationship with Islam, and so they may be open to it. And then they also have Christian family members, so there is that cross, and depending on what Arab countries they’re from, there may be an opening to talk about it, but what’s most important also is, like I said, sometimes people, they like Muslims like that conversation. They want to talk about Christianity with you, because they think Christianity is false. So it does provide an open door for you to be able to be like, Oh yeah, I’ve heard people tell me that. I know you guys think that, but this is my understanding.
Barry Meguiar 22:08
Are they wanting those conversations just for sake of argument or they wanting those conversations because they’re, they’re actually interested and want to learn more?
Speaker 1 22:17
Well they usually, they think they’re going to convert you, maybe, maybe you’ll be open to Islam. So they’re planting seeds too. It’s very evangelical for Muslims. So a lot of them are also interested in in you coming to faith in Islam. That’s it’s called Dawah, which is spreading the faith so they’re programmed also, if they go to a mosque, and from a very young age, they’re programmed to do that too. So that may be, that may be the motivation, but nonetheless, it allows for the opening of the conversation, not, not necessarily to be rude to you, but hoping to present Islam in a way that you’d accept.
Barry Meguiar 22:53
If I could depart just for a moment. I don’t want to get political, but we have some activity going on in Iran right now. What’s going through the mind of the typical? Can I ask you, what’s going through the mind if you could say typical Iranian today, caught in the midst of all this? What’s. What? What? Where’s the typical dare I even ask majority of Iranians? What are. They are in the country or outside. Inside?
Speaker 1 23:23
Yes. So for the overwhelming majority, they want this regime to collapse. So not what we hear from the White House that this has been a regime change because the top two layers have died. They want the mullahs gone, and so they want to be free. They’ve been oppressed for 47 years. They want to be free. And it is anyone’s guess, honestly, whether that’s going to happen or not, because messages from, you know, our White House and whether the Arab countries are going to support it. It’s not, it’s not entirely clear, but we, I know on the outside, and those in the country are really praying that there will be a chance of freedom.
Barry Meguiar 24:07
Any idea what percentage of Iranians want regime? Regime change, complete change?
Speaker 1 24:14
Well, if you base it on religiosity in Islam in the country, it’s 80% so they’re saying 80% of Iranians no longer identify with Islam. So and that’s based on the mosque attendance and the closure of mosques inside the country. Now mind you, it’s 90 million people, so 20% is still a huge portion of the population, but 80% is also very huge, and so there’s a there’s an overwhelming majority that wants regime change.
Barry Meguiar 24:46
Wow, isn’t that something? Well, as we close, we should pray. Maybe I should ask you to pray. We can both pray for those poor people that are trapped in the middle of all this, and most of them lost for eternity at the moment, and may we see a change in the regime there, in the spiritual life there, the openness, the freedom there that allows them to get the message of the gospel. I mean, wouldn’t that be amazing? And then, of course, we want to pray for all those are watching us right now, to love Muslims, stop hating them, stop being afraid of them. They’re all individuals that God loves every single one of them as much as He loves us. Amen. I mean, seriously, his heart is broken for them as he could be for any one of us doing anything off, off kilter, so we need to pray for both. I’ll start with and then would you like to finish, Father God, we love you and we honor you, which we thank you that we know your truth. We received your immutable love, your unchanging love that cannot be changed. It’s unwavering. It just keeps right on coming at us rather we, we kill people or hate people, or cheat people. There’s nothing we can do to escape your love. Down to the thief of the cross it was right there. And his last bad guy all of his life, and at the very end, he said, I believe. And he wanted to follow Jesus into heaven, which he did. Father God, we want to be followers, not just believers. We want to be followers. We want to follow you, follow your lead, honor your ministry, your love for us, and honor you by sharing your love with everybody. And right now, we’re saying particularly for the Muslim community, and I thank you for heading to this voice that you’ve given her. It’s just supernatural that you’ve raised her out of obscurity and really a Muslim environment, completely with her dad and all and you brought her to this truth because her heart, her heart was hungry for your truth, not just truth, your truth. And you revealed yourself to her, and you’ve empowered her, and you’re given a large platform she’s speaking all over the place. Thank you, Lord. Continue to give her wisdom, give her guidance. Holy Spirit, speak through her. May everything she say and does not just on a political basis, but to compel people to come face to face with you and the reality of your love for us, and then we pray for those all over the Middle East, particularly for the Iranians trapped in the midst of all this death, everywhere they look bombs, everywhere they look in the midst of all this. Lord, we pray that your plan will be fulfilled and, and your word be lifted up in the in the right things will happen. We pray for them, Lord, we pray for the safety of those who really want to do the right thing, 80% of the population. And again, we’re not praying for politics. It’s your will be done, not ours, but from our viewpoint it would just be so wonderful to open the door tell you the salvation being message being proclaimed throughout Iran. Wow. Whatever happens, we give you praise. You’re in it, and we’re on the sidelines, cheering and in every way possible, involving our lives and the lives of others, and being an instrument for your love in Jesus name for your glory, Lord, for your glory.
Speaker 1 28:17
Thank you, Lord, for all that you’re doing in and through Barry and this podcast, and all through all the listeners, Lord, give them a heart for Muslims so that they will share their faith and share the love and the simplicity of the Gospel, the message of Jesus Christ, and that salvation is just turning and repenting of our sins and following the Lord Jesus Christ. And so we ask that you imbue each of them with those, with the gifts, with the words that honor you Lord, that will draw their friends and family and people that they meet along the way, Lord, to the glory and the majesty of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. Lord and we ask that you continue to move in miraculous ways across the Middle East, including Iran, that you would show up as you have in dreams and visions and miraculous encounters and hearing the voice of the Lord in the midst of all of the darkness, Lord. That you will continue to touch those hearts and expand your territory across the Middle East, Lord, and we ask for protection for our soldiers, keep them out of harm’s way, Lord, and that you will continue to honor and bless all of the believers and increase their faith, Lord, thank you for all that you do in and through us. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus that we ask and that we expect all things. Amen.
Barry Meguiar 29:32
Amen. Amen. Uh, give everybody your web address again, so anybody wants to reach out to you, encourage, you, support you. Be encouraged by you. Where do they reach you at?
Speaker 1 29:46
Thank you. The website is resurrectministry.com, and I’m on Instagram, but you can find all of that on the website. I’m on Instagram under my maiden name, Hedieh Mirahmadi, and you get my book on Amazon, Living Fearless in Christ.
Barry Meguiar 30:01
All right, thank you. You’re awesome. God bless you and all you do, and for the rest of you, we’ll see you next time.
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