Greetings. My name is Tom Craig, I'm the Middle
East Co-ordinator for IC J. And we're going to be
speaking in this session about leading in times of
crisis from Isaiah Chapter 19, which is a
very important passage for those of us living
and working in the Middle East region. And for many
years, we've focused on this together with
leaders from Egypt, and all across the nations of
the Middle East, which we refer to as a Syria from
Isaiah is prophet as well as those here in Israel,
both Jews and Arabs. And it's exciting to see how
the Lord is developing strong relational
network, across these nations, even in
relationships between Jewish and Middle Eastern
believers for such a time as this, as we see more
and more shakings taking place in the world, and
crises facing those of us who are following Jesus
and longing to see his kingdom come. So I'm
going to be sharing some of the principles that
we've spent many years praying over and
discussing and working together to develop
understanding and an ability to support one
another in times of crisis. And so I'd like
to start by just giving you a brief overview from
Isaiah chapter 19, that it speaks primarily about
the nation of Egypt and what God intends to do,
before Jesus returns in that nation speaks of a
great transformation of what's going to happen in
Egypt during those days. And it's amazing to see
what he has planned for the nation of Egypt, he
speaks about a time of judgment coming, that's
going to be very severe. And it's going to address
a lot of the issues in the hearts of the
Egyptians that hinder them from knowing God and
loving him. And it's going to be a difficult
time, somewhat what is similar to what we're
beginning to experience worldwide, that this is
specifically about the nation of Egypt and a
speaks about things like civil unrest that's going
to affect the nation, and break out in all parts of
the nation and cause great consternation and
difficulty in society. As well as there's going to
be a resurgence of idolatry and looking to
even spiritists and mediums to try to help in
the time of trouble, which is only going to
further complicate and caused problems in Egypt.
But as well, we see that already happening in many
ways, people turning to the occult and other
kinds of things for help. It also speaks of natural
disasters, like the Nile River drying up in Egypt,
and the people there are going to have to struggle
to survive, and there won't be able, they won't
be able to work in those difficult times. As well,
the political situation is going to be in great
confusion and actually will break down in terms
of their ability to respond and help the
Egyptian people in those days. All of these things
are described in the earlier verses of Isaiah
chapter 19. Then when we come to verse 16, shift
takes place and what God focuses on in that
prophecy to Isaiah. And he begins to describe the
outcomes that he wants to see happen. And so I
believe, as leaders we can learn a lot from
these verses, the final verses of Isaiah 19,
about what God intends not only in the land of
Egypt, but looking at Egypt as an example, or a
prototype of what's going to be happening all over
the world. And even now, in our day, we're
beginning to see these things unfold and the
beginning of shakings or birth pangs that we see
happening. So it speaks in verses 16 and 17. I'll
just summarize from our understanding and study
and prayer into these verses for many years,
that it's speaking about. God desires to release
the fear of the Lord, through the shakings that
are taking place through the judgments that will
unfold. His heart's desire is to see the fear
of himself the fear of God
being Released in the hearts of people, that
they would turn to him instead of to idols or to
other things that they've hoped in and depended on,
that they would begin to open up and realize that
he's sovereign, that he's their Creator, and that
he has every right to their lives and for them
to surrender to his leadership in their
lives. And so that's what we see happening in
verses 16 and 17, of Isaiah 19, in the land of
Egypt at that time that they begin to really be
overwhelmed by the fear of the Lord, and what
he's doing what he's allowing to happen. And
so as leaders, I believe, we can learn from that.
And this can become a principle of our prayer
and our sharing with others that they would
consider the sovereignty of God, His Lordship, his
right to rule over his creation. And they should
turn their hearts to him and call upon him for
mercy for forgiveness, that there should be
repentance and turning back to him in these
times, as well. Then as we go into verse 18, it
speaks about whole communities of believers
in Egypt will gather together in these times
of judgment in this time of striking that Isaiah
describes, and they will be calling out to God
they will be speaking in the language of Canaan,
it says in this particular verse, which
means that they're actually in Egypt,
learning the language of Hebrew, and aligning with
God's heart and plan for the nation of Israel
believers. And we see that happening. This is
in the last many years, from our experience, and
going into Egypt and interacting with
believers there, many of them are learning Hebrew,
they're wanting to identify more with the
God of Israel, with even his feasts and Shabbat
and things, various things in their
understanding biblically of the Hebrew roots of
their faith, so much so that they would learn
Hebrew. And we can encourage believers all
over the world as these things are taking place
that it's about God's kingdom, being restored
with the nation of Israel, the Jewish people
as well coming to know him. And that we are to
have an understanding of his ways and align with
him. Now, that may not mean everybody needs to
start learning Hebrew right now. But this is
what's going to happen in Egypt, apparently, from
what Isaiah 19 speaks about. He also says
they're going to swear allegiance to the Lord
that speaks of great commitment and devotion
to the Lord. And to his end time purpose is to
establish His Kingdom on the earth as the Lord of
hosts, that they're going to swear allegiance are
going to lie into his purposes and agree with
what he wants to do, to see his kingdom come even
if that means turning over the nation of Egypt,
upside down, and uprooting the strongholds
that are there, and bringing his kingdom,
shaking everything that can be shaken so that
what remains is the kingdom of God, even in
nations like Egypt. That's what we learned
from that. So I believe as we're seeing shakings
beginning to happen in our world today, that's
what we want to be encouraging people around
us to understand God's purpose and plan of how
his kingdoms coming and align with that agree
with that, and say yes to it, swear allegiance to
the Lord of hosts, who's going to fight for the
kingdom of God to come upon the earth. It goes
on to speak about an altar in the heart of
Egypt and a monument dedicated to the Lord on
the border of Egypt. All of this speaks again of
great devotion, and worship of God going on,
among those who have turned to the Lord and
believe in Him in the land of Egypt. So again,
as leaders in times of crisis we want to call
people to worship the Lord, we want to call
them to greater devotion, and consecration times of
prayer, and fasting and again of repentance and,
and just worshiping him for who he is and the
beauty of His Holiness. He's worthy of that. And
that's what we won't want to as leaders focus on is
calling people back to the Lord to the Lord, in
times of crisis. It goes on to say not only will
he be worshiped in Egypt, but he will actually be
known by the Egyptians in a deep and intimate way
and they will make sacrifices vows to the
Lord and keep them. So I believe it's again,
speaking of great discipleship of people
coming to know the Lord discipling them into an
intimate knowledge of who he is being devoted to
him in every way, even in all of their life's
ambitions, that they really want to serve Him
and wholeheartedly. And they're sincerely from
their hearts. So this is what leaders should be
focusing on in our own lives. And as we lead
other people, through times of crisis is to
know the Lord to press in, to know Him, to grow
in intimacy with him, and really long to be
obedient and followers of him as his sons and
daughters growing in relationship with him,
and then it, it goes on to say that as well,
there's going to be a real connection between
Egypt and the other nations of the Middle
East, it speaks of a highway that's going to
be raised up in Isaiah 19.
highway that facilitates believers going back and
forth between those nations of the Middle
East or a Syria and Egypt to worship together. So
this worship and devotion is like a spirit of
revival all over the nations of the Middle
East, where they want to be together and longing
to meet together and in their various nations
going back and forth on this highway for the
purpose of serving the Lord or worshiping him
together. And that's exciting. I believe,
again, as we see dark and difficult days coming
upon the earth. God wants us to believe for a great
outpouring of his spirit, and revival to take place
in the midst of that. And as leaders, we want to
lead people into that spirit of revival and of
seeking the Lord pursuing him and worship together
all across the nations linking together in
various ways, not only in zoom, as we have been
these months, during this pandemic period. But as
things begin to unfold in greater ways we would be
stretching our faith to see greater expressions
of revival and awakening taking place across the
nations. That's what we're believing for in
the Middle East. And we believe that we're going
to see that in the coming season great outbreaks of
the Holy Spirit moving in these nations and
bringing harvest, bringing many souls into
the kingdom. And so that's what Isaiah 19
gives us an idea that that's what God intends
to do in these nations. And as leaders, we want
to join him in what he's doing, then it speaks of
as well, there being great reconciliation and
blessing blessing back and forth between the
nation's and the connection of hearts and
reconciled relationships. So it speaks of how even
Egypt with the nations of the Middle East or a
Syria are connecting together with Israel,
which is phenomenal that we're beginning to see
these breakthroughs taking place in the
cultures and nations of the Middle East. But it's
got to be rooted and grounded in the knowledge
of Yeshua as the Messiah, and worshiping God
through him. And that's what we're going to see
in the coming days is a great move of the Holy
Spirit, bringing salvation and
reconciliation to these nations. The nations that
are made up of the descendants of Abraham
and I believe are what we're seeing even today
in the Abrahamic courts is the beginning of God
opening the door for a great move of the spirit
that's going to lead and usher many people into
the kingdom. So we want to be understanding God's
purposes agreed with him that reconciliation, the
healing of the hearts of peoples across the
nations is what he intends, and especially
together with Israel, that it's going to
recreate a blessing in the whole earth. as Jews
and Gentiles come together and become that
one new man that Paul spoke about in Ephesians
chapter two. Along with that, then we can expect
God's outpouring of blessing upon the people
who believe and his full restoration of Israel,
the salvation of Israel, and his kingdom coming
upon the earth as it is in heaven. This is what I
see in Isaiah 19 we've been encouraging
believers across the Middle East for years
with these ideas and and outcomes that God speaks
about and how we can cooperate together to see
those things happen. So much so that through the
times of shaking during the Arab Spring and how
it impacts Did Egypt and other nations in the
region, there was great prayer and support and
intercession from believers all over the
world, and especially in the middle east towards
one another, as well, even more recently,
during the the explosion that took place in the
port of Beirut, we rally together, the believers
all over the Middle East. And we had many meetings
on zoom and people sending financial
support. Maybe some of you participated that in
that with ICJ, there was finances raised to help
the the Christians in Beirut, to reach out and
minister to people in a time of crisis. And we
stood with them and encourage them and they
were awesome as they reached out, even in
their own difficulty, to minister to 1000s of
people giving food, helping to repair their
homes, and using the finances that were
pouring in from around the Middle East and
nations all over the world. And we're so
grateful for that. And that's what God wants us
to do in these times of crisis is support one
another, unite together and help to see many
souls impacted and brought into the Kingdom
during those times. And we're gonna see greater
and greater opportunities in times of crisis for
that to happen. So these are things that we want
to tune into God's heart, his word, his ways, and
be prepared for in these coming days. So I hope
that you'll continue to study his his word, find
these things in Scripture like Isaiah 19 and other
key passages that speak about the times of
trouble the times of crisis that surely we're
beginning to enter into, but God wants us to see
them as times of opportunity to reach out
and touch the lives of many NC many come into
His kingdom. So Bless you. I hope that this
envision conference is an encouragement to you. And
I encourage you to listen to the other seminars
from the Middle East leaders from Iran and
Egypt, who also have helped to do seminar
content for this conference. I think
you'll be blessed as you hear from them. And God
bless you and may God use you powerfully and
wonderfully, again to encourage and lead others
through these times and to see many come into His
kingdom be established, strengthened and prepared
for his return. So God bless you and may you
have a wonderful fruitful year and 2021