"Ephphatha": the United Islands (Isaiah 13-16)

"What does one say to outsiders who ask questions? Tell them, 'God has established Zion. Those in need and in trouble find refuge in her."

Zion is of one place where Israel dwells together. Upper room on the day of Pentecost is of one place where disciples were together. Martha's Vineyard is one place where cultures come together. The Hebrides Islands is where two frail women prayed together. They came together to ask God to establish a refuge for those in need and in trouble.

"Ultimately, many of the tribe became Christian, including the paw-waws (spiritual leaders) and sachems (political leaders). It become arguably the first successful cross-cultural church planting mission in the history of Protestantism (Eliot's work on the mainland began a few years later)... the first Native American graduates of Harvard were from Martha's Vineyard... there were many native preachers on the island who also preached in English churches from time to time." I love how Martha's Vineyard had more history to the island than Native American! It once had a high rate of genetic deafness for almost two centuries documented. There are about 1 out of 155 deaf birth rate on Vineyard, which was 20 times higher than the nation. There were about 65% of deaf marriages that was a mixed marriage between deaf and hearing spouses on the island. Martha Vineyard Sign Language was created and commonly used by the residents, including hearing, and that allowed the deaf residents to easily blend into society. This is heaven!

Let us also look into how those two frail women prayed into the victory on the Hebrides Island. It is one of my favorite revival stories because the name of the island is He-brides, Jesus will come to marry us when we are united as the Body of Christ. "Peggy Smith was a blind 84-year-old prayer warrior. Her sister Christine suffered from severe arthritis. Yet these two frail women were not willing to see the enemy claim victory on their island! Together, they prayed fervently for revival... That revival continued for the next 30 years, and God showered His blessings on the entire region." If the story of the Hebrides Awakening show us that even two frail women could pray into the victory, then how powerful it would be for us, even if there's only two of us, to pray together.

"Remember also God's solemn assessment of the human unity He observed at the tower of Babel. 'Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them" (Genesis 11:6, NASB). Just think of the incredible power of human endeavor when those involved were united even in rebellion against God. Then think of the awesome power that our unity can produce when energized by the power of the Holy Spirit in revival. This is the power to change a nation and to frustrate the plans of those who wish to destroy us." -Steps to Revival, Pat Robertson

May our prayer language "be opened" as we draw near to God so that we may pray the Ephphatha prayer to our God, so that He may answer our prayers by drawing near to us and energize us by the power of the Holy Spirit in revival!