As an introduction to today’s Mideast Update, I would like to share a devotional I happened to read this morning. I found it timely in light of the amazing story passed on to me below. The devotional was written about 15 years ago by author Chris Tygreen, and I would like to share it with you today, word for word, as I read it this morning.
“You hide them in the shelter of your presence.” Psalm 31:20
“The promise is given to those who honor God, who come to Him for protection from the dangers of the world. We find ourselves in spiritual battles and physical hardships, and the enemy doesn’t fight fair. Though we aren’t spared from our definition of harm, those who trust God and lean on Him are spared from his definition of harm. He is a God who protects His people.
That’s what this psalm is about, from beginning to end. David felt besieged; his city was under attack, and he fled into God’s Presence for protection. He acknowledged that God alone was his defender, that God had not handed him over to the enemy but had set him in a safe place, that God cared about all his anguish and turmoil, and that God had treated him faithfully. Yet he also acknowledged that he was in distress, miserable, full of grief, and held in contempt by many. It’s a clear statement of two sides of our experience, we’re desperate, but God is trustworthy. Outside of His Presence, we’re vulnerable to the worst kind of harm; but in His Presence, nothing can touch us. He is our place of safety.
That’s why we can go wherever God calls us — into dangerous mission fields, war zones, or even the jungle of our workplace — without anxiety. His Presence makes all of those places safer than our own living room. God doesn’t call us to be reckless, but He does call us to be fearless. No refuge is more secure than He is. In whatever decisions you face, take fear out of the equation. If you trust God and honor Him, He hides you in the shelter of his Presence. He allows the war, but guards you from defeat. He protects those who are loyal to Him.
Prayer: “Lord, hide me in Your Presence. Protect me in the battles I’m facing. As I honor you with my trust and cast myself on You, please deliver me — not just with survival but with complete victory.”
On to the House of Blessing…
The report below was written by Dr. Nibras. He had traveled from his location in Syria to southern Saudi Arabia in order to care for Pastor Abdelreham and his close ministry associates, sheikhs Hayel and Arshid, after they had been attacked and nearly killed. What an amazing story it is!
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Greetings, Brother Jack, and greetings to all those who love the Lord Jesus:
The nearness of the return of Jesus Christ our Savior is not merely a claim intended to stir up excitement or create a spiritual atmosphere. Rather, it serves as an encouragement for us to set our lives right and to pursue our spiritual journey as faithfully and completely as possible. Furthermore, the approaching return of Jesus brings with it an intensification of persecution, a persecution that has already reached a peak in many parts of the world, such as in the Middle East.
As we draw closer to the time when Satan will be confined to the abyss, his desperation and rage become increasingly evident. We now stand on the threshold of the Great Tribulation. Not only is Satan moving to carry out his destructive schemes, but Almighty God is also hastening to gather the harvest before the great storm strikes this planet. The reaction of evil is clearly illustrated in the seventh chapter of the Book of Acts. After Stephen defended himself before his accusers, the Bible recounts the following in verses 54 through 60.
54When they heard this, they were furious and they gnashed their teeth at him. 55But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look”, he said, “I see heaven opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58dragged him out of the city, and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. (NIV)
Today a great evil and unquenchable bloodthirst is being unleashed upon the true Church. Satan hates the human race, and he especially hates those who have dedicated themselves to their Creator. Since the beginning of the last century, more Christians have been martyred than in all the preceding centuries combined since the inception of the early Church, and this number continues to rise. Yet it will soon come to an end and when the King of Kings establishes His millennial kingdom, justice and truth will be revealed to the entire world. And when, following the judgment of the Great White Throne, Satan is cast into the lake of fire forever, evil will be eradicated for all eternity.
Pastor Abdelrahem and his companions, Sheikhs Hayel and Arshid, decided to spend some time in a retreat with God. They had become exhausted by the work of helping with the printing Bibles and the burdens of ministry, teaching, and the constant effort needed to meet the needs of those who looked to them for leadership, even while still confined to wheelchairs — all of which had left them feeling discouraged. In need of a spiritual boost from the Lord, they resolved to dedicate this time to prayer; determined not to give up until they heard the voice of God.
You know, brother Jack, my role is to oversee them, change their wound dressings and administer their medication. When I went in to attend to my duties, I began to clean up, and found they had been totally healed of all their injuries! Their wounds had totally disappeared!
I found some milk and bread that had gone untouched, as if they had already eaten their main meal. Abdelrahem, Hayel, and Arshid acted like they were in the prime of their youth! They got up and walked about on their own two feet as if nothing had ever happened to them. Then they explained to me what had taken place…
They described that a man dressed in ordinary Arab attire had come to the tent where they were staying, and asked if he might have some water. The pastor, having only a small amount, shared some with him. The man then asked if they had any food to share. The men had nothing but two loaves of stale bread and some milk. The bread was not fresh and had begun to dry out. Yet, the pastor offered it to him anyway. The man expressed his desire to share the meal with them.
As they began to eat and drink together, the pastor was immediately struck by how delicious the food was, even though by all rights it should not have been. The bread tasted as if it had just been baked. As they partook of the simple meal, they began to talk — or rather, the visitor began to speak. The visitor looked at them and said in a casual tone, “I know your names.” As the man spoke their names, each one of them confirmed, “Yes, that is my name!” The visitor then told them that he had come to share how much God loves them.
Given that they were paralyzed from the waist down, the stranger asked them to do something highly unusual. He requested that they get up from their chairs, come toward him, and embrace him. They stared at him in astonishment, wondering if they had heard him correctly. The man repeated his request, asking them to rise from their wheelchairs, approach him, and offer an embrace (a customary and appropriate greeting in Middle Eastern culture). They looked at him once more, then slowly rose from their wheelchairs until they were standing. Regaining their balance, they took short, labored steps until they reached the stranger. They reached out and embraced him as he had asked. They walked slowly back and forth for a while, barely able to believe what was happening.
After letting them walk for a few minutes, the man told them it was time to return to their seats. As they sat back down, the man looked them in the eyes and explained that he had come to give them a message and tell them that many people around the world loved them and were praying for them. He added that God is aware of their dedication, their passion for serving others and the work they are doing in the harvest field today. He further noted that their time spent in their wheelchairs was part of God’s own divine plan and purpose. Finally, he assured them that God would continue to provide for their needs and encouraged them to take heart, for time is running very short. The man reiterated that God had sent him to assure the pastor and his close friends in ministry, that He holds each of them very dear. He spoke of the depths of the Heavenly Father’s love for them and for all those on their way to heaven. He then specifically mentioned the names of Jack and his wife Anne. While the man’s use of the pastor’s and the sheik’s names was surprising, some might still downplay the miracle, thinking that others in the region could have known their names. However, the man’s mention of two other names from the farthest distance of the earth is something that could not have happened without divine knowledge.
The fact that the stranger knew your names personally, served as a profound confirmation to Pastor Abdelrahem that this was no ordinary man, nor merely a prophet, but an angel who had taken on human form. He came to encourage the pastor who was bearing a heavy burden and had endured trials most of us could not even imagine. God responded to the sacrifices offered in prayer and fasting by providing the encouragement they so desperately needed.
The angel’s touch upon the bodies of the pastor and his companions was a miracle, signaling that God was fully aware of their injuries — wounds sustained from brutal beatings and stoning. As for why God allowed them to remain in the wheelchairs for so long, that is known only to God, He is the Sovereign One. After all, God did not remove the thorn in the flesh from the Apostle Paul either.
The pastor and his companions told me that they could not stop weeping for hours after the angel’s visit, overwhelmed by the realization that God sees them and loves them so deeply; so deeply, in fact, that he went to such great lengths to reach them wherever they might be. I must confess, I too, understand that sentiment. God is so very near to us, and He loves us!
This is precisely why I am His servant forever!
Dr. Nibras.
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Over the 14 ½ years I’ve written the Mideast Update newsletters for the House of Blessing, there have been a number of angelic encounters, probably many more that were not recognized at the time. Pastor Rashid told me of two or three encounters that he personally had had. There were also accounts of such encounters by other HOB missionaries. One of these was by a man named Farid, who had been viciously beaten, thrown onto the city dump pile, and left to die. It was not God’s time for Farid to die yet and He sent an angel to raise him out of his coma, heal his blind eyes, and commission him for the work God had for him in the days ahead. Angels are very real. There are different categories of angels but Hebrews 1:14 calls them “ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation.” God uses them for His purposes and often for our benefit — whether we recognize it or not.
It seems that God still has plans for Abdelrehem, Hayel, and Arshid. Praise God for their miraculous healing! From what I hear, the Lord has instructed them to stay where they are for the time being and continue expanding the work in southern Saudi Arabia.
Please continue praying for them, and for all of the House of Blessing missionaries and community of believers all across the Mideast. They are almost always in great danger and their needs are enormous, but we serve a prayer-answering God. Thank you for both your prayers and for your financial support. The number of souls coming in is beyond our imagination! I received a new update from Dr. Nibras this morning with some of those statistics. They will be included in the next update.
Please keep HOB in prayer for another reason. A massive Mideast war is about to explode. The House of Blessing knows it is on the brink. They live in the bulls-eye and see it first hand. This should also be no surprise to those who study the Scriptures. It was foretold by God’s prophets long ago. And, here we are! Jesus’ coming is also right at the door. We’re going home soon! Maranatha!!
Forever in His Service,
Jake (aka Jack)