I got a call a few days ago from R*, the founder of House Of Blessing. At the time of his call, he himself was still in a wheelchair and not able to move much yet. But, he said that he was content that he was fulfilling exactly what God wanted out of him for the time being. He said that lots of people were coming through the tent where he is being cared for by a number of believers in the area.
We talked again about the tremendous miracles that were experienced by the other two men that had nearly been beaten and stoned to death with him. For those of you that have followed this story, you will likely remember that both men took the chance to go back to their families. When confronted with the truth of the Gospel of Jesus, their families and friends who had gathered insisted that if Jesus was Who He said He was, then He could heal them right in front of the gathered crowd. Both men had an aversion to putting God on a spot like that but after praying together for a few minutes, God urged them to do just that. As they prayed, they were both hit with something they could only describe as electricity. Once they realized that this “shock” had not hurt them, they tried to get up and found that they had been healed. Before the prayer, neither of them could walk due to the severity of their injuries.
As a result, these eighty people became Jesus followers, including the father of one of the men, who was a sheik.
Now here is where the story gets even better. As R* described things to me, this healing not only touched the eighty people present, but caused them to begin to reach out to others as well. One sheik reached by this miracle then became five more sheiks. The five reached however opened the door to a meetings with somewhere around 50 more sheiks.
R* again emphasized that he felt God was using his own situation as a means to reach out to the constant flow of people coming through his tent. He said that he was able to share with people and teach them for many hours a day. Even after nearly being killed, hundreds and hundreds every week are finding Jesus Christ as their LORD and Master.
This Jerusalem update actually now covers two conversations I had with R* while still in Syria. He called again Friday, the 17th (May) to give me an update on how things are. I asked him how he is doing physically with his own injuries and I found him kind of reluctant to say very much because he does not want any pity for anything that has happened. I specifically asked if he is able to walk yet and he said he could stand if he was holding onto something. He has no feeling in his legs and so does not dare attempt any walking. His infections are gradually healing due to antibiotics given him by Christian friends helping him.
R* again emphasized that he knew God was in complete control of his life, his situation, his health, his future, and God’s ultimate plan for his direction in life—or death. This reminded me of what the Apostle Paul said in Philippians 1: 18b-28a (NIV):
“…Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, I what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far, but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me. Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you…”
R* did say he was very grateful for all those that are praying for him. Those in America are likely only going to know about him through what is found on this blog. He is grateful for both prayers and also all financial support because it is reaching the masses at a time when everything is on the edge of erupting in cataclysmic war. He has asked prayer for continued strength so that he can continue preaching and teaching with his mouth, even if he can’t move around with his body. He has said that he has complete confidence in the fact that when it is time for him to move from the area, God will enable him to do so. As it is, people continue to stream through his tent and he is able to teach, encourage, instruct, and lead the people as God helps him.
I did find out that this sheik who was reached as a result of seeing God completely heal his son, has taken 50 of the Bibles and is now taking other sheiks, one at a time, and hopes to reach as many of them as possible because of the influence they have over the people. This man also has an extended family which he hopes to reach before time has totally run out.
I am going to close this Jerusalem update with this: I have found this man to be one of the strongest, most dedicated man of God I have ever had the privilege of knowing. His heart is good, He is committed to the death if necessary, he has nothing left in this world—especially since he has now sold his own residence to purchase more Bibles, and he longs only for one thing. He wants to reach one more…then one more…then one more, etc. If his time comes to go home to his LORD and God, he is happy; if God keeps him here longer, that is good for the people he has brought into the Kingdom of God. How can we not pray for such a person? How can we not help someone like this financially? Because he does not belong to some organization? There are more preachers like this in this world than those that happen to belong to organizations—by a long shot. I am not against organization—as long as it does not get in the way of what God is really doing. Very few true believers in most parts of our world do not belong to an official organization. With R*, we either know in our spirit that this is the real deal, or we don’t. Some of us may need to trust those that are able to know. I leave it with all of you just like this, and rest my case.
God is calling the very last ones into His Kingdom as I write this update. Let’s be a part of what God is doing in a part of the world that only a rare few have any idea of what is really happening. God not only loves you and me, and Jewish people, but also Muslims. It takes someone that can reach into the Muslim areas to reach those people. This is what R* and H.O.B. are doing.
For those that want to help:
H.O.B. CITY OF JESUS MINISTRY; 3206 SW 45th St.; Redmond, OR. 97756
Gifts are tax deductible
Thank you and KEEP LOOKING UP!
Jake