We used to and we can again

I saw an article yesterday, entitled Global Prayer Movement Credited for Mass Revival Among Muslims. It begins:

“A global prayer movement, organized to coincide with Ramadan, is credited with playing a major part in impacting the Muslim world.

Hundreds of thousands of Christians around the world are due to take part in the 25th annual 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World (30daysprayer.com), to be held May 15 - June 14.

Since the initiative was launched, more followers of Islam are believed to have turned to Christ than in any time in history.”

You can read the entire article here.

I have seen many, many reports of God working among Muslims, and it’s always exciting to read them. And this article, like the other reports, reminded me of the part we played in this.

I was a pastor for more than 25 years, serving three churches in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. Each one was a part of the Christian & Missionary Alliance, an evangelical denomination which describes itself as, “missionary is our middle name.” Naturally we emphasized missions in every church.

When we were in York, SC, I somehow came across an interesting prayer initiative from Window International Network (WIN) called

Praying Through The 10/40 Window

This was not a C&MA project, but I looked into it because mission groups everywhere were talking about the 10/40 Window. What is this 10/40 Window?

“The 10/40 Window is located from 10 degrees south to 40 degrees north of the equator. There are 69 nations across northern Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia in the 10/40 Window. Nearly 4 billion people live here, including 90 percent of the world's poorest of the poor. It is estimated that 1.6 billion of these people have never had the chance to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ - not even once! The seat of every major non-Christian religion - Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Animism, Atheism, and Sikhism - is headquartered in the 10/40 Window. Two-thirds of the world’s population (4 billion) live in the 68 nations of the 10/40 Window.”

We signed up and joined other believers around the world in a 30 day concert of prayer for the nations in the window. Exotic countries, strange names, foreign customs, far off places full of people we had never seen, yet we faithfully prayed for them.

Shortly after we began participating in Praying Through The 10/40 Window I received an invitation to join

30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World

“The 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World, is an international movement that began in 1993. It calls the church to make a deliberate but respectful effort to learn about, pray for and reach out to our world’s Muslim neighbors. It coincides annually with the important Islamic month of religious observation — Ramadan.”

Most of the Muslim world is in the 10/40 Window so we joined this initiative also. Here we were, a little church in upstate South Carolina, praying for people we didn’t know, living in cities we struggled to pronounce, with customs we didn’t understand; yet those brothers and sisters faithfully continued in prayer because we believed God loves those folks and has the power to do what we can’t even imagine.

We were never planning to visit the Window, so how would we ever know if God answered our prayers? All we knew was God loves them, Christ died for them, and the Holy Spirit wanted us to pray for them. And so we did. That’s why articles like this are so exciting - we responded to the Spirit’s moving and joined believers all over the world in this prayer initiative, and God has done wonders!

I have often shared these reports with those brothers and sisters, and reminded them of our part in that, to encourage them in their faith. Now I suppose I should move from “we used to participate in the 30 Days of Prayer” to “let me once again join with the saints in the 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World.”

Salvation to the end of the earth

The Life and Ministry of the Christ in Isaiah

Isaiah 49

“In this chapter the Messiah is introduced, declaring the full extent of his commission, which is not only to be Savior to the Jews, but also to the Gentiles. The power and efficacy of his word is reprehended by apt images; the ill success of his ministry among the Jews is intimated, and the great success of the Gospel among the Gentiles.” (Adam Clarke)

“This is a prophecy concerning Christ, and redemption by him; and of the enlargement of the church in the latter day, by the conversion of Jews and Gentiles.” (John Gill)

We are still in the section of Isaiah where he speaks often of the servant of the Lord (40-53). Many times (especially in 40-48) the servant is Israel the nation, but as Michael Brown* says, “The references to the servant as an individual come into clearest focus beginning with Isaiah chapter 49 and continuing through the end of chapter 53. The servant is clearly an individual in Israel in 49:1-7, where the servant is tasked with a mission to the nation.” +

Now let’s consider the prophecy:

1  Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.
“The character and office of the Messiah was exhibited in general terms at the beginning of chap. 42; but here he is introduced in person, declaring the full extent of his commission, which is not only to restore the Israelites, but to be a light to lighten the Gentiles.” (Clarke) At the beginning it is clear that the mission of Christ extends to the isles, the people from far, the Gentiles.

The LORD hath called me from the womb – Jesus did not assume this honor, nor did he exalt himself, he was called by the Father to the office of a Mediator; to be Prophet, Priest, and King; to be the Savior and Redeemer of men. (Gill)

from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name – Was this not fulfilled in Matthew 1:18-21, When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost...while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS.

2  And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me
Christ is the Word of God in his person and he came preaching the Word of God in his ministry.

3  And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.
If this is a prophecy of Christ, why does it say, Thou art my servant Israel? This is part of the servant section In Isaiah. In 40-48 the emphasis is on Israel the nation as the servant of the Lord; but in 49 Isaiah begins to focus on an individual as the servant, namely Christ. “It is clearly speaking of an individual Israelite who has a mission to his people...he fulfills the mission of the nation.” (Michael Brown)

4  Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God.
Christ, sent by God into the world, to His people Israel, seems to have labored in vain - he was rejected and crucified. But, “this is not to be understood of his sufferings and death, which were not in vain, but issued in the redemption and salvation of his people; but of his ministry and miracles, and fatiguing journeys among the Jews; which, with respect to them, were in vain, as to their conversion and reformation; they rejecting the Messiah, slighting his doctrines and miracles, refusing to be gathered by him, being a faithless and perverse generation.” (Gill)

5  And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength.
Though Israel be not gathered – Jesus said, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! (Matthew 23:37)

yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord - This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses ... being by the right hand of God exalted ... Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:32-36). Yes, glorious!

6  And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
It is a light thing...to raise up the tribes of Jacob – Christ will restore the preserved of Israel.

I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles – Christ was sent by God to enlighten the benighted Gentiles.

that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth – This takes your breath away! When Christ came and was crucified in Jerusalem, Rome was the end of the earth. Then Britain and Ireland, then America, then China, then Irian Jaya. And the word of Christ has come to them all. Salvation to the end of the earth!

The rest of the chapter explains more fully the salvation the Messiah will provide. In verses 1-6 it is Christ speaking, now it is thus saith the LORD

7-13 Salvation to the Gentiles
8 Thus saith the LORD ... I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth...
9  That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places.
10  They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.
13  Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.

14-26 Salvation to Israel
14  But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.
15  Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.
22  Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.


The Almighty promised to send Christ to be His servant and bring salvation to Jew and Gentile. He has fulfilled this promise in Jesus of Nazareth, whom he has made both Lord and Christ. And now Christ says to us,

I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

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* Michael L. Brown was born in a Jewish home and became a believer in Jesus in 1971. He holds a Ph.D. in Near Eastern Languages and Literatures from New York University and has served as a visiting or adjunct professor at Southern Evangelical Seminary, Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary (Charlotte), Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Fuller Theological Seminary, Denver Theological Seminary, the King’s Seminary, and Regent University School of Divinity, and he has contributed numerous articles to scholarly publications, including the Oxford Dictionary of Jewish Religion and the Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament.

+ You can the entire article here.

Christ, the servant of God

Life and Ministry of the Christ in Isaiah

#8 Isaiah 42

In chapters 40-53 Isaiah speaks often of the servant of God. Many times in Isaiah 40-48 “the servant of the Lord is explicitly identified with Jacob-Israel. Only once in Isaiah 40-48 can a good case be made for an individual within Israel being the servant of the Lord rather than the nation as a whole being the servant, namely, Isaiah 42:1-7 (see the Targum). Otherwise, it is clear: When God is speaking of His servant in 40-48, He is referring to the nation as a whole, and in context, it is His people Israel suffering in Babylonian exile.” But, in 42:1-7, “it is clearly speaking of an individual Israelite who has a mission to his people…The servant of the Lord in Isaiah 42:1-7 liberates the captives, described as blind and imprisoned. It is this righteous individual, he who stands for his nation and represents his people, who lays down his life for their sin. And it is he who becomes a light to the nations.” (Dr. Michael Brown*)

Dr. Brown suggests we take a look at the Targum (ancient Jewish paraphrase / commentary) for Isaiah 42. This is how it begins: “Behold, my servant, the Messiah, whom I bring, my chosen in whom one delights: as for my Word, I will put my Holy Spirit upon Him; He shall reveal my judgment unto the nations.” Amen!

Let’s take a look at this prophecy of Christ, the servant of the Lord.

42:1  Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
42:2  He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.
42:3  A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.
42:4  He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.

The Messiah is the servant of God, anointed with the Spirit of God, who will govern the Gentiles (1); he will not be a rabble-rouser (2); he will deal gently with the broken and hurting (3); his kingdom shall stretch from shore to shore (4).

Matthew says this is fulfilled in Jesus, Matthew 12:14-21:
14 Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him. 
15 But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all; 
16 And charged them that they should not make him known: 
17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, 
18 Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.  
19 He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.  
20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.  
21 And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

This appears to be mostly from the Hebrew, except the last phrase. In Hebrew it is, “and the isles shall wait for his law,” yet Matthew has, “And in his name shall the Gentiles trust,” which agrees exactly with the Septuagint.

Matthew describes the nature of the ministry of Jesus - he was not contentious, nor riotous, nor did he lead a protest or a strike; the broken and the fallen he sought and restored – as well as the extent of his ministry – and in his name shall the Gentiles trust. This was exactly what Isaiah had prophesied of Christ.

Isaiah, moved as he was by the Holy Spirit, went on:
42:6  I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
42:7  To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

Christ will be for a covenant of the people - he will, by the cross, establish the New Covenant, with its blessings of forgiveness of sins and restoration to God.

for the people – this is Israel, the Jews; As Paul explained, “Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers” (Romans 15:8)

for a light of the Gentiles – “And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy” (Rom 15:9) Jesus Christ has opened the door for the Gentiles, invited them to come, and accepts them as they do! Amen!

The salvation of the Gentiles is further described in 42:8-12:

8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.  
9 Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.  
10 Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.  
11 Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.  
12 Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands.

It is amazing to see how this has been fulfilled! The mercy of God extended to the Gentiles!

to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house – this is a description of what it is to be lost: it is to be blind, to be a prisoner. This is also a description of Christ’s salvation: he will give sight to the blind and liberty to the prisoner. So, we who believe in Christ, Jew and Gentile, can sing,

I was lost in sin when Jesus found me,
But He rescued me, all glory to His Name!
And the cords of worldly pleasure bound me,
Till He saved me from sin and shame. ('Twas a Glad Day When Jesus Found Me, Albert Simpson Reitz)

Jesus is the Christ, the servant of God bringing salvation: he opens blind eyes and sets prisoners free; he restores the fallen and heals the broken. All glory to His name!

I hope you can sing with me this glorious hymn!

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* from the article, How Rabbi Blumenthal Missed the Forest for the Trees, by Michael L. Brown which you can read here

Prepare ye the way of the Lord

Life and Ministry of the Christ in Isaiah

#7 Isaiah 40

This is a wonderful chapter, full of messianic hope and promise in 1-11, followed by a magnificent exposition on the nature of God, 12-31.

3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight the paths of our God.  
4 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low: and all the crooked ways shall become straight, and the rough places plains.  
5 And the glory of the Lord shall appear, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God: for the Lord has spoken it. †

And how does this speak of Christ? First, it mentions the forerunner of Christ:

Luke 3:2-6
2 ...the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. 
3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; 
4 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying,
The voice of one crying in the wilderness, 
Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.  
5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; 
and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;  
6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

John understood this of himself (John 1:22-23):
22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? 
23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

How is this in any way significant? Isaiah prophesied that someone would come before Christ to prepare the way for him, and that when Christ came all flesh shall see the salvation of God. John the Baptizer is this one, and he pointed to Jesus.

Second, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord. This tells us who Christ is, he is the Lord.

Third, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. Through Christ salvation has gone all over the earth.


3 Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight the paths of our God.  
4 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low: 
and all the crooked ways shall become straight, and the rough places plains.  
5 And the glory of the Lord shall appear

This is the preparation for the arrival of a king and so John came preparing the people for Christ the King.

I love v 6, And the glory of the Lord shall appear. This is Christ, he is the glory of the Lord (Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, Hebrews 1:3).

Isaiah refers to Christ as King and calls him the Lord and the glory of the Lord.


6 The voice of one saying, Cry; and I said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass: 
8 The grass withers, and the flower fades: but the word of our God abides for ever.  

This is a great passage and is quoted by Peter (1 Peter 1:24-25):
24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 
25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.


9 O thou that bringest glad tidings to Zion, go up on the high mountain; lift up thy voice with strength, thou that bringest glad tidings to Jerusalem; lift it up, fear not; say unto the cities of Juda, Behold your God!   
10 Behold the Lord! The Lord is coming with strength, and his arm is with power: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.  
11 He shall tend his flock as a shepherd, and he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and shall soothe them that are with young.

Another amazing passage! The glad tidings is the announcement of The Coming One:

Behold your God! Behold the Lord! – Christ the Lord

The Lord is coming with strength and power - to defeat the devil and destroy death.

His reward is with him and his work before him – his work is the cross and his reward is the salvation purchased at the cross.

And look at the tenderness of Christ in v 11.

This is awesome! Christ is the Lord; he is the glory of God; he came with strength and power to defeat death; through his work on the cross he rewards everyone who believes in him with salvation. Jesus is this Christ. Amen!


Now for a song from v 11 we used to sing. Hope you can join me!

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† All quotations of Isaiah are from the Septuagint (LXX), Greek translation of the Old Testament

Go and tell John what you hear and see

Life and Ministry of the Christ in Isaiah

#6 Isaiah 35

1  The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
2  It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.
3  Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
4  Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.
5  Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
6  Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
7  And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.
8  And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.
9  No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:
10  And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Oh the joy of the salvation of God in Christ!

behold, your God... will come and save you – this whole chapter announces salvation.

they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God - This is Christ, he is the glory and excellency of God. He is Emmanuel, God with us.

O how he describes the salvation which Christ brings: the desert will blossom, there will be streams in the desert, a highway for the ransomed of the Lord to return to Zion, and they shall return with songs and everlasting joy, with joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

How will we recognize Christ when he comes? The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the lame will walk, and the dumb will sing.

Jesus used this passage to declare he was Christ:

Matthew 11:2-6
2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 
3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? 
4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: 
5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.  
6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

Luke describes the same incident in 7:19-23 and adds a wonderful detail in v 21

Luke 7:12-23
12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.
13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. 
14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 
15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. 
16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. 
17 And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about. 
18 And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things. 
19 And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? 
20 When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? 
21 And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight. 
22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.  
23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

Art thou he that should come? This was one of the ways they referred to Christ, The Coming One. John’s disciples ask, Are you the Coming One? How can Jesus prove he is the Christ? By his miracles. It was prophesied that when Christ came this is what he would do, and here he is doing these very things! Are you the Coming One? Yes. Yes, I am.

There are those who say, “Well, if Jesus really did it back then, how come he doesn’t do it today?” What about miracles, signs and wonders today? I wrote about this a few years ago, you can read it here

Jesus is the Christ, the promised Savior, and the miracles in the ministry of Jesus are proof of that. Art thou he that should come? Yes! And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.