As we view our world today and the convergence of prophetic events, it is quite clear that things will never be “normal” again. All of the things Jesus warned us about in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 are currently unfolding exponentially. The evidence shows that the groundwork for the time of John the Revelator’s Apocalypse, has already been laid. We are now on the very precipice of our world plunging into the greatest time of tribulation ever to be experienced in man’s history. The formation of the “Beast Kingdom”, a term that is becoming quite common today, is nearly complete. Some of our readers may be recognizing similarities to George Orwell’s “1984”. Amazing how our world has changed—and so very quickly!
The Apostle Paul had some pertinent words for us today in Romans 13:
And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
Romans 13:11-14
Many true followers of Christ today are finding themselves becoming increasingly detached from the things of this world. Have you possibly experienced a bit of this in the last few weeks or months? As the world becomes more and more chaotic, our attention, as believers, is being drawn upward. That is because our citizenship is not in this world. Once we became followers of Jesus, our citizenship was transferred to the Kingdom of Heaven instead of the kingdom of this earth. We still pay taxes here, but not for long!
It truly is, as the above passage points out, high time to awake out of sleep! The second coming of our Messiah is at the door. We must prepare ourselves and walk as true Ambassadors of the Kingdom of Heaven. While we are still here, we will continue to be battered by the flesh, by ungodly temptations, and by the emissaries of the evil one. We need to put the Lord at the very center of everything we do and say. That is what it means to “put on the Lord.”
Pastor R and the House of Blessing missionaries are well aware that time is running out. Each morning that the Lord blesses us with brings us one day closer to the Day of the Lord; but it is also one more day in which to share the love of God with someone—hopefully leading them to the feet of Jesus before it’s too late.
Something we often forget is that, even before the end of the age, life can suddenly come to an end for a person. Statistics tell us that over 6,000 people die every hour, either by disease, accident, disaster, war, plague, or by any number of reasons. This is just another proof of how important it is for us to be prepared for whatever the Lord allows. We don’t know what tomorrow holds but we do know Who holds tomorrow.
When Pastor R called last, he said that bombings in the last few days in Syria once again destroyed many homes and many innocent civilians lost their lives. Among those killed in this incident were 28 believers who are now at peace in His Presence.
A good piece of news is that through the generosity of God’s people, one truckload of wheat was purchased. The 40’ load was divided and sent to four quarters. A great many people were able to survive a little longer and more importantly, there was once again a great harvest of souls. According to the regulars who give a report, Omar, Sami, and Mussa and their volunteers were able to reach 230 families with the Gospel. Mufiedah, Sarah, and Fadwa and their missionary volunteers reached an additional 145 families. Ibrahim and his missionaries reached 110 families; Adel and Mahmoud lead 70 families to Christ, and Sahbander and Mortadah reached an additional 35 families. From these same areas, at least 127 of the dead were buried by HOB missionaries.
The House of Blessing also continues to provide the special oregano and additional ingredients for the tea mixture that has proven very effective in treating the Covid virus, the flu, and other illnesses. God continues to heal people! Many people overcome their sicknesses with the special tea, others through the laying on of hands and prayer, as the Bible tells us to do. Many others are healed as they participate in communion. God is good!
Pastor R shared with me that both of the nurses that have been caring for him got sick and could not care for him. The two men who have been staying with him did their best to take their places. Pastor R also caught something and was not able to talk for a couple days but was better at the time of our call. Prayer for the House of Blessing and all their leaders is very much needed and appreciated! Although the missionaries sometimes come down with sickness or are plagued with other tribulations and persecutions, the Word of God is very much alive and the harvest continues. The power of God is evident in many ways, even in very obvious ways, like multiplying the food for the people. The food repeatedly goes much further and feeds many more people than it should. That is the God we serve!
In closing, and in light of the turbulent times we live in, I would like to share a few verses from Psalm 46. This is how it reads in the Living Bible:
God is our refuge and strength, a tested help in times of trouble. And so we need not fear even if the world blows up, and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam, let the mountains tremble!…..The Commander of the heavenly armies is here among us! He, the God of Jacob, has come to rescue us! Come, see the glorious things that our God does…..”Stand silent! Know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation among us! The Commander of the heavenly armies is here among us! He, the God of Jacob, has come to rescue us!
Psalm 46:1-3, 7-8, 10-11
No matter how the storms rage or the heavens and the earth shake in the days ahead, maybe even this fall, our God has His people in the palm of His hand and He will never leave or forsake us!
Thank you all for your prayer support for the House of Blessing. And a big thank you to those who give to HOB and invest in the Kingdom of God! A multitude of souls are being reached!
Forever in His Service,
Jake