A few days ago, many of you received a special request for prayer, so many folks are wondering about the status of the HOB leaders and teachers who were attacked. I received details from Sister Rolla saying the morning teaching staff was attacked by Iranian extremist militias during shift change. This was the incident where the women were doused with acid and the male teachers were beaten, all of whom were recent graduates of the HOB training. The women’s burns were very serious and dissolved the hair off of their bodies. I have been told that sister Fatima and her group of believers are doing a wonderful job treating the women who were so severely burned. By the grace of God, they will be healed. The men, Shahbander, Mortada, and Al-Shuwaikh were struck so hard that their bones were dislocated as if they had been dragged by chains. Their shoulders were broken. They are now in deep comas.
Al-Hanini and Aylout Eban say that the attack was in response to Sheikh Morsi’s miracle and the miracle of the child who disappeared from its grave. This shook the Shiite Islamists to the core. They don’t want the Gospel to spread in their regions. Great anger has been aroused among the leadership of Shiites and Sunnis alike.
Special caution is now being taken by HOB missionaries in Iraq in the northern city of Erbil and the southern city of Basra. In Erbil, Al-Awiwi and Al-Sudani, Mahmoud, and Ayad were together but it was mainly Al-Awiwi and Al-Sudani who suffered the worst of an additional attack in Erbil. In Basra, another attack was aimed at Al-Salwadi and Shaker, Jaafar, and Zalatimo. Others like Omar, Suhail, Aylout Aiban, and the brothers and sisters are taking special precautions in Sakiz, Bani, Qom, and Sandij.
The bottom line is that the enemy of our souls knows his time is very short and he is seeing the power of God invade territories he has had control over for centuries. In light of all these events, I received a couple messages from Abdelrahem. The first one was a combined statement from Abdelrahem, Hayel, and Arshid.
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Peace be upon you and upon all who follow Jesus Christ, the Savior of the nations from the arrogance and tyranny of its enemies. I will tell you the status of things today after terrible attacks and where those of the House of Blessing who were attacked stand in their relationship with Jesus. Educational institutions were attacked, and a group of male and female teachers were repeatedly beaten, resulting in loss of consciousness, comas, broken shoulders, and women being burned with a powerful acid that burned their bodies and caused their clothes to cling to their skin. There was excruciating pain and burning, yet nothing could break their spirits or their faith in their Lord. They said that Jesus told them they would only be there for a few days, and then they would receive eternal life in His presence forever. This is something we should all remember.
When we hear stories of people around the world identifying with Jesus — who will soon come as King and creator of the entire universe — we are reminded of what we may have taken for granted, and how we have become dangerously complacent in our personal journey with God! The world is being warned today that time is truly running out and our eternal destiny is at stake! In this generation, we have heard so often that the end is near that we frequently ignore it, guilty of what the Apostle Peter warned against in his second letter, chapter 3:3-4:
3 …in the last days, scoffers will come, following their own desires, saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? 4 For since the fathers fell asleep, everything continues as it was from the beginning of creation.”
Also Jude: verses 17-19:
17 But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: 18 how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. 19 These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.’
I have been in contact with the brothers and sisters and they tell me the teaching is continuing for one shift only due to the shortage of leaders and teachers, and only for 8 hours. But, my brother Jack, we remain true to the covenant, and the brothers will continue in this manner, God willing. As for the printing press with Abu Adam, he will be assisted by Shabo and Rabbi Spazi to purchase ink and paper. The word of the Lord will continue. Resources do not concern us; the Lord will provide what is good. May the Lord bless you, my brother Jack.
Your brothers in faith,
Abdelrahem, Hayel, and Arshid, sealed by the Lord.
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I received another message from Abdelrahem yesterday, November 15, which included devotional thoughts for us to contemplate.
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Peace be upon you, my brother Jack, and upon all who follow Christ. I want to explain to you that the situation is extremely difficult right now. The enemies are paying any price to get to me, Hayel, and Arshid. We are now in the same situation as Jesus when He confronted those that made themselves His enemies. Instead of confronting the Roman government, Jesus chose to be the Lamb of Redemption. Then He underwent unjust trials and was subjected to the painful process of scourging and crucifixion. See what we find in Philippians 2:5-11:
5 “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God also exalted Him to the highest place and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee would bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Jesus had the power to confront any enemy who stood in His way. No power on earth, not even from hell itself, could defeat Him in any way. We get a glimpse of this when a whole squad of Roman soldiers confronted Him in the Garden of Gethsemane. When He asked them who they were looking for, they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” When He answered, “It is I”, the entire squad fell to the ground. Do we really believe that any power could stand a chance against the Son of God? Yet Jesus allowed Himself to be taken so that God’s plan for the salvation of humanity might be fulfilled.
After Jesus had been on the cross for hours, and after He had spoken His words, “It is finished,’ He released His spirit into the hands of the father. No one took His life. He willingly completed what He had come to do, and then He died. The soldiers who had come to break the legs of the crucified to hasten their deaths because of the Sabbath found Jesus already dead.
The passage we read earlier in Philippians tells us about Jesus’ humility. Regardless of His identity, He surrendered Himself to the most horrific and humiliating death imaginable. He had the power in heaven to summon a legion of angels to free Him, but He did not, for that would have negated the purpose for which He came: to die for the sins of all humanity, so that His innocence and righteousness might be credited to all who accepted the gift of His salvation.
And I say, my brother Jack, am I ready to sacrifice myself, Hayel, and Arshid for the sake of completing this divine mission? We will pray for this purpose. We are ready to sacrifice for our people, my brothers and sisters. We ask you to pray for us. We weep for them. My brother Jack, the situation is very bad. They desperately need help. They have worked and learned about redemption with their souls for Jesus. Also, Aylout Eban is ready for this. He says, “I will go to my Lord and deliver these people as a trust.” Please pray for us and for people’s salvation. This is the end! He is coming, and we are ready for it. Our brother Jack, whenever the Lord comes, we are ready. There is no redemption other than what Christ accomplished. Our lives are not important, but what matters to me and the brothers and sisters is spreading His Gospel and delivering the message. I am doing all my effort, and they are too, but the need remains great, and we will not abandon them. They are trained for leadership, and we desperately need them because they have experience, like our brother Rashid. We have now served the Lord for more than 40 years. His coming has come. The time has come. Pray for this. May the Lord bless you.
Your brother, your brothers in God,
Abdelrahem and the brothers are servants of the Lord forever.
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I did receive a message this afternoon that in God’s mercy, the brothers that were in a coma are gradually waking up. They are very tired and do not have a full memory of what has happened to them. Please pray for them. The injuries they received were very serious.
I was also made aware that without an influx of finances, the print shop will have to close. The House of Blessing is praying that the Lord of the harvest bring in what is needed. It is substantial. If anyone has questions about the ministry of the House of Blessing, please contact us through either of the email addresses below. Thank you all.
Forever in HIs Service,
Jake (aka Jack) 541 408-2779