Week after week in these updates, I share a little bit of the news coming out of the Mideast. One of the reasons I do so is because many people do not pay much attention to the news. I was talking to a banker friend a couple of days ago and asked her if she was aware of the latest news concerning the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Her response was: “To tell you the truth, when I get home, I have just about enough time to get things done at home that need to be done and then I go to bed.” That is every bit understandable. But, the events in the Middle East affect the entire world, and in the next very short period of time, will embroil most of the world in war.
Pastor R and the House of Blessing missionaries know this and are making the most of the little time left before all this unfolds on the world stage. Jesus reminded us that we must work while it is day because night comes when no man can work.
Since the last Mideast Update, Sister Mufiedah and 17 of the Widow Sisterhood were captured by Hezbollah militants. For 3-½ days, they were beaten and received no food or water for the entire time. The militants demanded that the women repent of their faith in Jesus Christ and return to Islam, but the women refused. As the abuse worsened, the women told their captors that it did not matter what they did to them, they would never deny their Christian faith. They told these men they could kill them if they wanted; nothing would change their decision! As they woke up on the morning after those 3-½ days, they found that their captors were gone. Either they had been driven off by opposing terrorists, or they had been killed. The women were free! They then found their way back to the rest of their community of believers and have been recuperating. Praise God! They were spared once again.
This reminds me of the story of Peter in the Book of Acts. It reads like this:
Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of unleavened Bread. So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover. Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.” So he went out and followed him…Acts 12:1-9
As we return to the story of Mufiedah and HOB’s ministry in the north, another 180 were brought to recognition of who Jesus really is by the HOB missionaries. These 180 have all become followers of Jesus, the Messiah as well. Sadly nine of the community of believers were martyred in the same general area.They are now in the presence of Jesus, their Lord and Master. Soon, we will all join them when we hear that great trumpet call!
Omar and Same are continuing the good work that they are doing in the suburbs of Damascus. In the three former mosques that have been turned into churches, at least 500 of the new believers reached during Ramadan this year are gathering in each building several days a week to continue their intensive House of Blessing School of Ministry training. They are learning the basic teachings about Jesus and the power of the Blood of Jesus that the Bible teaches about. Although there are never enough Bibles, many copies of the teaching materials are made available. The materials are full of Scripture verses to learn and memorize. The students are able to take the copied materials home in order to do homework and do their memorizing. Soon, these students will themselves become powerful preachers and teachers. The harvest is coming in!
Reports coming in from Adel and Khaled tell us of 45 more new believers in the Fallujah area. Sadly, in their area they lost three missionaries who were killed for their testimony. Their reward in Heaven will be great because of their great love for the Lord Jesus!
Seventy five are reported to have been reached in Kurdistan since the last update, and brothers Sahbanber and Mortadah have reported another 50 souls reached through HOB in Iran. Amazing…Amazing! God is doing amazing things in our day and time!
Akram and Mustafa, the brothers who are leading the work of the ministry in the Mosul area have given testimony of another 300 that have given their lives into the control of Jesus Christ. As we well know, Mosul has been in a chaotic state for a long time now. ISIS has for the most part been defeated and the city taken out of their control. But, there are reportedly still thousands of the militants doing great damage and killing many civilians. Much of the city, if not most, has been destroyed by the bombings in the past months. There are still many dead on the streets and under the rubble. HOB missionaries have rented a tractor in order to help get the corpses into the ground. They know that many of the dead are House of Blessing missionaries. They managed to get 550 buried and hope to continue the burials as quickly as possible. The number of ISIS militants still in Syria also number in the thousands. It is amazing how a terrorist group that was virtually unknown four years ago has militants located all over the world! Even so come, Prince of Peace, and set this world straight!
Sister Sarah had quite a story to tell for this update. As most readers already know, the Lord has been taking her from one location to another sharing her unique testimony. As she shares and as people come to her for prayer, she and those helping her minister, pray for a great many people. A great number have been introduced to Jesus Christ as the Messiah through the ministry God has given her. Since the last update, the Spirit of God led her over the border into a very difficult area of Lebanon. The location where Sarah went is by the site of a battle between Hezbollah and Al-Qaeda jihadists near the border between Lebanon and Syria. The location of this is Jurud Arsal. As the account from Sarah goes, she was ministering in a large, four story bombed out building to between 230 and 250 people. The presence of the Lord was very strong in the building and the unusually powerful anointing was bringing healing to many. The healings witnessed were of all kinds and very obvious to those watching. She described it as a phenomenal outpouring of God’s mercy and power. The joy of the Lord came into the building and all fears of the war and carnage in the area were forgotten for the moment.
As Sarah was praying for people, she received an open vision from the Lord. She saw four great fiery hands holding up the four corners of the building’s roof. As she took in what she was seeing in the spirit, she heard the voice of God saying, “Get the people out!” So, she did what God said and got the people out of the building. No sooner had the people exited the building, the entire structure collapsed. Not one person was injured; all were kept safe!
When the people in the area witnessed Sarah and all the people getting out of the building just before it collapsed, their response was much like so many others in the past. “We need to meet your God!” And, they did. Over 400 new souls were brought into the Kingdom of God through this great miracle of protection over Sarah and the people with her! What an amazing God we serve!
Pastor R continues ministering to people everywhere he goes. He is being taken to one location after another, sometimes in areas where there is no reception for his phone. He prays for thousands of people every single week. There is great joy in all the places where the Lord takes him…and great miracles. God continues to keep his health strong enough to continue fulfilling his calling. God is good! Above you read the story about Sister Sarah and her visit over the border into Lebanon. As it turns out, the Lord sent Pastor R and the protective angels assigned to him into the same general area. Please continue to pray for him. His situation is always dangerous. The devil would love to see him caught again. But, our God is always in total control of all things.
In conclusion, I am more convinced now than ever that the Times of the Gentiles are quickly coming to an end. This will signal the start of the Day of the Lord, when God will judge this wicked God-rejecting world. During the same time however, God will fulfill His covenant with the Jewish people and bring them to a recognition of the fact that Jesus of Nazareth truly was, and is the Messiah.
How much time do we have before the beginning of the Day of the Lord? No one can really set a date, but it is imminent. Israel is dealing with enormous pressure from the nations of the world–just as the Bible has predicted, and the threats from the Muslim world are never-ending. The Lord said that the entire world would turn against Israel. Could this be because of what is about to happen to Damascus? It is very possible. Israel is being pushed into a corner and she will not have any option but to push back against her enemies…and she will push back with devastating force. I believe this may very well unfold much sooner than most think.
For those of us who watch how world events are unfolding in light of Bible prophecy, we recognize that we are at the end of the age. One day soon, the last soul will be reached that closes out the age. Could it happen through one of the Bibles paid for by someone from the West and distributed by a House of Blessing missionary? Could it be through the testimony shared by Sister Sarah? Or Mufiedah? Or Pastor R? Or maybe someone you will lead to the feet of the Master? We must live each day as if it were the very last one we will have on this earth. This is the one generation in which people will have all of their plans, dreams, and aspirations for the future suddenly interrupted. Most of the world thinks life will continue just as it has for millennia and others scoff at the end time scenarios. But God’s Word never fails. Never. All will be fulfilled just as has been written.
But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” Then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunken at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. 2 Thessalonians 5:1-11
So…comfort one another with these words while we continue to pray for all of these men and women who have pledged their very lives in the service of the coming KING of Kings. Any financial help is always a great blessing as well. The PayPal button provided is the quickest and easiest way. Thank You.
Forever in His Service,
Jake Geier