Many people today think that if they live a life of honesty and integrity by the golden rule, God will require nothing more of them. That is, however, untrue. The chasm between a Holy God and fallen man is infinite and cannot be bridged by good works. The separation between God and man does not stem from our individual acts of sin but rather from the fallen nature we as humans have inherited through the fall in the Garden of Eden. That fallen nature has been carried through humanity’s bloodline ever since and needs a supernatural solution. That is why we cannot save ourselves. The solution could only come from God. He alone was able to provide the bridge. This is why we cannot afford to ignore the free gift of salvation that has been provided for us. God did not step into the skin of a man and allow His own creation to crucify Him in the most brutal of ways for us to ignore it. His resurrection from the dead cannot be ignored either because it was provided for us — but only if we have humbled ourselves, recognized our fallen condition, and asked Him to be the Lord of our lives. Jesus was telling the absolute truth when He said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no man comes to the Father except through Me.”
On to the House of Blessing. I combined Pastor Abdelrahem’s messages from the last few days into one update.
Peace be with you, my brother Jack, from the land of resilience. As I reflect on the events and realities of the HOB missionaries, I am amazed at how eventful this year has been. The generosity of God has been evidenced in the trust, faith, and obedience of His faithful servants as they stay with some of the most needy people in the world. I speak of divine interventions in ways that go unseen by many. I also highlight the hardships they have faced under the worst imaginable living conditions. The greatest transformation, no matter how remarkable the miracles, is the transformation experienced by those who recognize Jesus Christ as the one true Christ and ask Him to be their lord and Master. This is the essence of the mission of the House of Blessing missionaries.
As things stand today, the situation in the Middle East remains dire. The HOB missionaries, who have gained extensive experience in re-erecting and rebuilding tents over several seasons, continue to provide assistance to the best of their ability, despite the devastation suffered by Omar and his companions. However, despite all these efforts, many remain homeless. The need exceeds the missionaries’ capacity to meet it, but they are doing their utmost to provide educational booklets. They have already sent the 7,000 previously ordered for distribution.
In the eastern and western regions of Iran, the number of victims of attacks last week reached dozens. Despite people fleeing in all directions, the Gospel message reached approximately 21,000 people. Through the ministry of Sister Ikhlas, 240 people were healed, and another 175 through Sister Maliha’s prayers. All of these had been seriously injured. Sister Maliha also, with the help of those with her, was able to help 85 other people — families who had lost young children or loved ones. As they were prayed for, the Lord touched them so as to help them emotionally through the grief process that had been weighing them down. She and her team were also able to administer communion to more than 3,900 new believers. These people sang, prayed, and worshipped God, and they continue to trust in Him to help them overcome all that they are yet to face. There is much to learn from them!
Some have inquired about 91 widows who were receiving treatment and rehabilitation. They still need our prayers, as they continue to suffer from the nightmares left by the vicious sexual attacks and repeated rapes they were subjected to. However, the strength of their faith will enable them to overcome Satan and complete the mission the Lord has led them to undertake.
So far, brother Jack, I am doing well. The toxins that were in my body have been eliminated. There is great hope, and I pray for Ma’touq, Aylout, Omar, Shahbandar, and Mortada, that the Lord may heal them and that their wounds may close completely. It is expected that their condition will improve soon. Dr. Nibras and Dr. Bandis, along with their brothers, are making efforts.
Through my conversations and consultations with the HOB elders, rabbis, leaders, and sisters, and during my spiritual reflections today, I came across a verse from the Bible that accurately describes the feelings of many believers in many parts of the world that follow, financially support, and pray for the House of Blessing and its missionaries. This verse is found in 1 Thessalonians 2:13:
For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.
The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the church in Thessalonica, a church eager to hear what Paul had to say and joyfully opened their hearts to the truths he preached, which he heard from the Holy Spirit. This verse resonates with the thousands of new believers who have joined the large community of believers and followers of Jesus Christ in the Middle East, to whom the message by the House of Blessing has reached.
More than a week has passed since the blatant attack on the brothers, and the evangelization campaign has begun, spearheaded by Drs. Nibras and Bandis. Efforts are currently underway to attract as many new converts as possible to Bible study groups to strengthen their faith. Those leading this campaign, particularly in the areas where Omar and his companions, Aylout Eban, Ma’touq, and their associates served, hope to provide ten weeks or more of intensive training. Reports indicate that over 5,000 people are hoping to attend these groups. Consider the need for teaching booklets and Bibles.
Over the past year and now this year, the Lord has blessed HOB with numerous opportunities to gather large numbers of believers for special instruction sessions. However, the training of new believers has been most effective when small groups of people meet under the guidance of two or three teachers. The days are often long and the sessions intense, but the results are remarkable. Ma’touq and Aylout Eban are part of a group of men who have provided intensive training through HOB’s School of Ministry. Thanks to these two men and the many others they have trained, tens of thousands of souls were reached in the past year and a half.
Now, Drs. Bandis and Nibras, along with the HOB missionaries they oversee, are adapting to ensure the continuation of their missionary work. The fruits of their labor must be reaped, for time is very short. Among the imminent prophetic events is the complete destruction of Damascus and its surrounding areas. Because this event is so close, it is fitting to include a small portion of the scriptures that describe this destruction. God did not warn us of this event so that we would ignore it. Isaiah chapter 17 describes the future of Damascus, but I will only mention verses 1 and 14:
1Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city, and it will be a ruinous heap… 14Then behold, at eventide, trouble! And before morning, he is no more. This is the portion of those who plunder us, and the lot of those who rob us.
The prophet Jeremiah also spoke of the coming destruction of this great city in Jeremiah 49:
23 “Against Damascus. Hamath and Arpad are shamed, for they have heard bad news. They are fainthearted; there is trouble on the sea; it cannot be quiet. 24Damascus has grown feeble; she turns to flee, and fear has seized her. Anguish and sorrows have taken her like a woman in labor”… 26 “Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day” says the LORD of hosts. 27“I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall consume the palaces of Ben-Hadad.”
The prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah describe the total destruction of Damascus. Isaiah describes this destruction as occurring in a single day, between sunset and sunrise. The scriptures also point to Israel’s involvement in this destruction. Today, Israel is being drawn more and more into the conflicts in Syria. Could this be a warning? I think so. Of course, there are many other aspects to this prophetic image, but I will not elaborate further in this brief update.
With the renewed ceasefire agreement between Iran, the US, and other countries, there is a glimmer of hope that the people will have the opportunity to determine the next steps. Hundreds of thousands have been killed in Syria since 2011, and millions have been displaced. Some reports indicate that the focus is now on the complete elimination of ISIS. But dismantling ISIS, of course, will not stop all terrorism. There are dozens of jihadist groups, including groups like Hezbollah, and even Iran and its military forces, and these groups will not submit to the dictates of any international leader, whoever he may be.
Back to the HOB missionaries… Twenty men were trained by Sheikh Zakaria and were able to lead 7,000 new converts in prayer this week. They, like others previously, were baptized. The missionaries usually go in groups of three to minister to the crowds. During the same period of time, Sarah and her group ministered to 3,000 people. As for the full number of those who worshipped Christ, while these leaders were praying with the new converts and the subsequent baptisms, I have no idea. All I know is the number was very large. Praise God!
In Kirkuk, Fallujah, and Mosul, Jaafar, Zalatimo, Al-Awiwi, and their volunteer helpers reached 1,270 more people who named Jesus Christ as their Lord and Master. They feed the people whenever they can. In one way or another, they demonstrate Jesus’ love to all who respond, whether men or women. The work continues as long as the door of opportunity remains open. Jesus said, “I must do the works of him who sent Me while it is day, for night is coming when no one can work” (John 9:4). If night falls tomorrow, will we have done what the Lord has asked of us? I pray that we will. Let me share this verse from Ephesians:
14Therefore He says, “Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” 15See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5”14-17
After study, prayers, and communication between myself, Rabbi Spazi, Shabo, and Saftawi, and Dr. Nibras, Dr. Bandis, and the elders Al-Awiwi, Jaafar, Zalatimo, and Zakaria, and Sisters Ferial, Hafiza, and their team, we know a very great event is soon to take place. Soon, the Lord of Glory will return to this world, which is falling more and more under the spell of the god of this world, and restore His complete dominion over it. The psalmist wrote these words in Psalm 24:
1The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein. 2For He has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the waters. 3Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? 4He who has clean hands and a pure heart…”
In contrast to this great psalm of King David, we have Psalm 2:
1Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? 2The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, 3“Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us.” verses 1-3
This is a unique psalm, for it is a dialogue between the three Persons of the Holy Trinity. The Holy Spirit begins this dialogue, speaking in verse five. Then the voice of the Father comes in verse six, speaking about the Son. In verse seven, the Son speaks Himself, and in verses eight and nine, we find the Father speaking again. The Holy Spirit then concludes the dialogue in this psalm with these words:
Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him. verses 10-12
We live in a unique time. As the world hurtles toward another world war, God is about to intervene in the affairs of this planet by allowing a series of events foretold in the scriptures to begin — events that will be the most destructive and devastating the world has ever seen, even more so than the cataclysmic days of Noah. At the end of this time, called the Great Tribulation in the Bible, Jesus Christ Himself will return to rule this planet as God the King.
The advice in this inspired psalm, which refers to Christ’s millennial reign and is found in verses 10-12 of Psalm 2, is not advice that most of the world’s kings, prime ministers, or presidents are likely to heed until Jesus, the Son of God, the Word mentioned in John 1:1, intervenes in the affairs of this world. The Bible tells us that without His intervention, the world would have been completely destroyed. This is the inevitable consequence of the nation’s rebellion against God!
I find that the last phrase of that psalm is something we, as believers, can, and indeed must, live by. The psalm says again, “Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.”
And we, whatever happens to us, will complete the task. The Lord will bring the truck that will carry His Holy Word to every lover of Jesus, and the Lord will provide provision to pay off accumulated debts. So let us pray to the Lord of the harvest. Amen, amen. In Your Name, Lord Jesus.
Your brother, servant of the Lord,
Abdelrahem
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Thank you all for your prayers and support. I received word today that another 10,000 teaching booklets are to be printed immediately. Pastor Abdelrahem mentioned a truck. HOB is looking for a truck to replace the one that was set on fire and destroyed by Islamic authorities recently. The House of Blessing cannot make the deliveries without a delivery truck. To avoid the same thing happening again, they have laid out a different route to move the printed materials over the border. Please pray for these brave drivers and those that see to it that the materials are distributed all across the Mideast. Thank You!
Forever in His Service,
Jake (aka Jack)