Prior to sharing the latest House of Blessing update, I have a question for you. Does it ever feel to you that the Lord is moving slower than you would like? Do you ever find yourself nearly panicking because it seems He is going to show up late? Note God’s interesting response to a threat from an enemy nation to Israel in Isaiah 18.
For so the LORD said to me, “I will take My rest, and I will look from my dwelling place like clear heat in sunshine, like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest, for before the harvest, when the bud is perfect and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, He will both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks an d take away and cut down the branches. They will be left together for the mountain birds of prey and for the beasts of the earth.…” Isaiah 18:4-6a (emphasis mine)
Isaiah 18 is one of the more difficult chapters in Isaiah, but in short, the storyline here is that Israel was facing an arrogant, brutal enemy nation and was petitioning God’s help. God’s response (in modern terminology) was, “Let the ‘mighty’ enemy advance against Israel, I will watch quietly from my temple, at my leisure — serene as someone on a pleasant summer day or a lovely autumn morning during harvest time — but while the enemy thinks he has a sure victory, I will cut him off and feed his army to the birds of prey and the beasts of the earth.”
We can find encouragement in this short passage that, no matter what we as the people of God face, God is not caught by surprise; He is never intimidated; He knows the exact time to intervene, and He does not fail. I should add a caveat that neither God’s interventions nor His timing necessarily meet our approval at the time. We are limited by our 3-dimensional view of things. God sees the entire picture. When He seems silent, we should not assume His silence is His absence. He is simply biding His time and will rise at the most opportune moment — just when the wicked seem to be finding success. In Israel’s experience, when God decided to intervene on their behalf, their enemies they would meet disaster no matter the height of their arrogance or power.
God often has another point of view and there is always wisdom behind His response, or even delay of response. Why did Jesus let the disciples strain at their oars as long as He did in the storm on the Sea of Galilee? Why did He wait as long as He did before going to Bethany to visit His sick friend Lazarus — waiting until he had died and his grief-stricken sisters had laid him to rest? Jesus had waited for the perfect moment to intervene most effectively.
However the Lord asks of us, and no matter how slow He seems to respond, never think God is not aware or that He doesn’t care. He promised not to ever leave or forsake us. And…He also said, you have not because you don’t ask.
2 Chronicles 16:9 says:
The eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.
This is true whether you are a homemaker, a construction worker, a corporate executive, or a missionary in the field. God is looking to be strong in your situation if He has your heart! 2 Chronicles 15:7 makes this promise:
“But you, be strong and do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded!” (emphasis mine)
Now to the House of Blessing…
In a previous update, we reported that a few members of 30 different mosques had given their lives to Jesus Christ during the Eid al-Adha sacrifice celebration. But, it was just a matter of time until more would come. Pastor R has already received a report that ten Muslim men from one of the mosques approached HOB missionaries and asked to be prayed with. They expressed a sincere desire to accept Jesus as their Savior and be free of their sins. The missionaries were of course very happy to pray with them.
An unexpected blessing from this miracle of salvation is that these men brought a financial gift to help the work of the missionaries that was enough to purchase two truckloads of wheat to distribute. What a wonderful blessing — and from brand new believers! God really does work in mysterious ways at times! I am sure that in time, there will be others responding to the Good News message they heard about Jesus. Seeds have been planted!
I mentioned in previous updates that there have been bombings in Idlib, presumably either the Syrian military or its ally, Russia, trying to root out rebel factions. The problem is, because most rebel factions are embedded within civilian populations, civilians become victims. A few days ago, a couple of the HOB missionaries came across three Shi’ite Muslim men who had been badly injured during one of these bombings. When the missionaries asked the injured men if they would allow them to pray for them, the men asked what good that would do. The missionaries told them that it is possible that God might heal them, but the most important thing was, if they repented of their sins, they would have an eternal destiny in the Kingdom of God. The men, as so many others have, asked how God could possibly forgive them of the terrible things they have done. After explaining how God’s forgiveness works through the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ, the missionaries prayed with the three injured men, and they became believers of Jesus. The missionaries also prayed for their healing, but in this case, they were not healed outright as many others have been. They were, however, able to stop the severe bleeding in two of the men and they are now recuperating under the care of the House of Blessing community. Sadly, one of the men passed away not long after becoming a believer. But he is now completely and eternally healed and is in God’s paradise, along with so very many others, including the thief on the cross who recognized the true identity of Jesus, submitted to Him and was forgiven just hours before his death. Praise God!
In all locations of the HOB community of believers, the daily work of the ministry continues. As Pastor R went through the reports that had come in, the missionary teams were able to visit about 2,300 families and share the Good News with them. They were also able to share some wheat with each as well as Oregano tea mix.
Pastor R told me that the refugee’s circumstances continue to deteriorate. Wherever the missionaries go, they run across those who have died, either of cholera, the flu, a virus or any number of other ailments. I was also told that the effects of the twin earthquakes are still a huge issue, and will continue to be for a long time. The House of Blessing is doing what they can to help wherever possible.
Sister Mufiedah continues to stay with a few of the HOB sisters. Pastor R says he wishes he could put her in a self-contained tent during her recuperating time, but such a tent costs about $3,000. It is a specially built tent that has a concrete floor and other amenities that are not normally available. Such a tent, if HOB had one, could of course be used again and again for those with unique needs.
Pastor R continues as he has been, praying for many and meeting often with the leadership of the House of Blessing. Their prayer is that they can still purchase more Bibles for the new believers.
Thank you all for your support and prayers. All from the House of Blessing community are grateful. Please continue to pray for them all. Major war is at the door and the fields are white, ready to be harvested!
Forever in His Service,
Jake