Just before sharing a fresh report on the latest from the House of Blessing, I’d like to share what I hope will be an encouragement for the reader.
In today’s world in which “normal” is being turned on its head; right being considered wrong and wrong considered right, it is important for us to remember “who” we really are as God’s people. He has a calling on all our lives, whether as missionaries in the jungles of Central Africa, the rain forests of South America, or as missionaries in the Middle East as with the House of Blessing. Incidentally, this applies as much to true Christ-followers in the increasingly godless West.
Take a moment to ponder the Scripture references below:
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over then livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and be over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:26-28 ESV (emphasis added)
For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. Romans 8:29 ESV (emphasis added)
He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high Hebrews 1:3 ESV (emphasis added)
Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? John 14:8-9 ESV (emphasis added)
Without going into all the twisted, chaotic thinking being foisted on the human race today, we — especially those of us as Christ-followers – must not forget “who” we have been created to be. The verses above make it very clear that mankind was created in the image of God. It is also clear that Jesus, the Son of God, is the exact mirror image of the Father. In fact, as we see in John 14:8-9, Jesus tells Philip that “whoever has seen Me has seen the Father. That literally means, as we find in Romans 8:29 above, that it was God’s plan from the very beginning that we be conformed to the image of the Son so that He might be the firstborn of many brethren. So, what does that mean for us today? It literally means for us to be “Imitators of the Father, as Beloved Children.”
Most believers recognize the fact that this means: As beloved children, we are created to imitate God. Most of us understand that, but the implication is a bit more intimate. The Greek wording of the passage could actually be translated: ‘Be imitators of God in the same way as, or just like beloved children.’ How do you do that? It sounds to me like a person would need to know what beloved children are; how they act, how they react, and how they live. So then, live just like you’re one of them! We as true children of God are not bound by what we’ve been in the past or even what we are right now. We have been given the power to live as we are not…or rather as we are not yet…but to live as we are yet to be. Take a moment to ponder the implication of those words!
This makes the little word, “as”, a very powerful thing. We remember the story of the Angel of the Lord approaching Gideon in the Old Testament. He addressed him as a mighty man of valor. Yet, the truth of the matter was that he was a man living in great fear. The Angel of the Lord greeted him as if he was a mighty man of valor. It was now required of Gideon to live by faith as if he really was that great man of valor. And, the Old Testament record in the Book of Judges confirms that this is exactly what Gideon became. That’s the power of the little word, “as”. Gideon’s life was totally changed through his encounter with the Angel of the Lord (the pre-incarnate Jesus).
The same principle applies to us today. We should not be bound by what we are. Rather, we are to live as if we were that which we are yet to become. We can live as if we could do great and mighty things as children of the King…even if it is beyond anything we’ve known, or been, or done. Put the principle of “as if” to work! Of course, it hardly needs to be said; whatever we do while attaching the name of our God to it, it must be by the direction of the Spirit of God. That is what made Gideon so successful. The advantage we have as believers in the Age of Grace is that we have the Holy Spirit living within us full time, whereas in Old Testament times, the Holy Spirit came upon God’s called ones periodically as they were to complete something God had asked of them.
Now, on to the House of Blessing…
Brother Taher updated the activities of the House of Blessing and what is written below is pretty much word for word what he shared with me. He said that he received word from Omar that he and the brothers, Hisham, Taher, Basem, Flyiah, and Mahmoud are still preaching the Gospel along the border area between Turkey and Syria where there are a large number of displaced Syrians. Omar and his companions are trying to reach many to put their faith in Christ. Most of his time is spent explaining the importance of renewal and new birth. He asks them to believe in Christ with their entire heart so that they can live in the new family of Christ. Omar also teaches them the 6 commandments of Christ:
- Love God and Neighbor
- Repentance and Forgiveness
- The Kingdom of God
- Humility and Service
- Have Faith; Trust in God
- Peace and Reconciliation
The folks being shared with are attracted to Christ and they believe in Him because His commandments are acceptable to everyone. The number increases day after day as Omar and the brothers move from one region to another, sharing and studying the life of Christ. It is an amazing thing that Omar and the team have been able to bring more than 2,000 people to faith in a short time. What is a particular worry to Omar, though, is that he promised the believers that he would provide them with Gospels when the money is available to buy them there. There are great numbers asking, waiting, and praying for Bibles that they can have for themselves to read and study.
Sisters Mufida, Hafiza, Ferial, Subiha, and Labiba preach the Good News of the Gospel daily. Recently, Fatima brought an orphan girl from a group of orphans that she takes care of. The child’s name is Siham and she asked Sister Mufida to pray for her. Siham suffered from partial facial paralysis. Mufida looked at the girl’s face, and found it beautiful, but her mouth was full of saliva on the right side and this caused her to drool continually. Her right eye, which had become severely dry, was now also blind. Siham was unable to eat, drink, or sleep well. Mufida called the group of women that spend much time interceding for the sick and asked God by the power of the Holy Spirit to heal this child. The women then prepared themselves to spend some quality time praying for Siham.
Mufida tried to give her tea through a straw and then put some of the organic Oregano tea mixture that they have been using on her face. The sisters then began to worship and pray. They continued to do so for several days until after a week of intense prayer, they asked God for the needed miracle for this little orphan girl. Then it happened! Siham felt something warm moving on the right side of her face, and her mouth returned to normal. After that, she smiled and then laughed. Sihan and all the women raised their hands to the sky and thanked God for His miracle. Their faith, strength, and trust in the Holy Spirit increased after they saw what had happened to Siham and how she was now completely normal! Siham did mention to the sisters that there was a great shortage of winter clothes, food, water, and blankets. Winter is fast approaching. The sisters asked us all to pray for a provision of winter supplies as the weather is getting colder now by the day.
Talal received news that things are still very tough in Rafah. There is much chaos and it is very difficult for many to find food aid and other necessities because of the continuing war effort. Everyone affected is, of course, hoping for some type of deal to be made between the warring parties so that the civilians can have a little bit of peace, even if only for a few weeks. One can understand, considering their plight. Their lives are miserable because they are not able to get food or water and their tents are becoming quite tattered. Health is another issue as diseases such as the common cold, scabies, bacteria, and many viruses are spreading among the people. Another serious issue is the fact that there is a great deal of human waste and corpses in the area. They thank you all for your prayer support, not only for themselves, but for the many others that are in need.
Some additional news I just received today before I conclude today’s update: The Sisters informed Talal that a group of students just graduated from their classes. They have just started a new Bible training course today for another group of eager students. Praise God for the eagerness expressed by folks that have been under the oppression of Islam for their entire lives! The Good News of the Gospel is a message of FREEDOM!!
Talal shared with me that all the brothers and sisters are grateful for the demise of Hassan Nazrallah, leader of the Hezbollah terrorist group for the past 32 years. Even though the death of anyone, no matter how evil, determines their eternal destiny, it is a relief when someone as evil as this man was, is finally extinguished. In Old Testament times, King David would have brought Nazrallah’s head back to Israel and displayed it for everyone to see! The IDF made sure they got him by dropping more than 80 bunker buster bombs on his deep underground bunker as he and many Hezbollah and Iranian military leaders sat to watch Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech at the United Nations. The timing was interesting, to say the least, since it was just moments before the speech that Israel’s Prime Minister gave the final go-ahead for the attack on Nazrallah’s control center. This man was responsible for a great many deaths, both in Lebanon and Syria. In fact, the lives of many HOB missionaries and their families were brutally extinguished because of him and his terrorist organization.
There have been untold deaths due to Hezbollah, the Iranian regime, and the Russian military which has been in Syria to prop up Bashar Assad’s regime. As of today’s current news, Israel is still targeting Hezbollah’s leadership and caches of ammunition, missiles, and missile and rocket launching sites. As of the writing of this update, Israel has breached the border between Israel and Lebanon to eliminate the vast tunnel system and military infrastructure that Hezbollah has built over the past 20 or more years.
From what we understand about Bible prophecy concerning events transpiring right before our eyes, things are going to get much more volatile. Israel is going to face off with all of their border enemies — some of which have not yet entered the conflict. As I finish writing this update, The United States has informed Israel that Iran is in the process of preparing a massive assault. We have already seen a limited attack from Iran on Israel in April 2024. We have also heard rumors of other attacks threatened which did not materialize. As I am writing this, I am receiving news that a major attack from Iran has in fact begun.
We are living in the times described in the early verses of Zechariah 12. Here’s how the passage reads:
2 “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem. 3 And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it. 4 In that day, says the LORD, “I will strike every horse with confusion, and its rider with madness; I will open my eyes on the house of Judah, and will strike every horse of the peoples with blindness. 5 And the governors of Judah (lieutenant commanders) shall say in their heart. ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem are my strength in the LORD of hosts, their God.’ 6 “In that day I will make the governors (lieutenant commanders) of Judah like a firepan in the woodpile, and like a fiery torch in the sheaves; they shall devour all the surrounding peoples on the right hand and on the left, but Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place — Jerusalem. 7 The LORD will save the tents of JHudah first, so that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem shall not become greater than that of Judah. 8 “In that day the LORD will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; the one who is feeble among them in that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the Angel of the LORD before them. 9 It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. Zechariah 12:2-9 (emphasis added)
What we see in this passage is what is beginning to happen today right before our eyes. God is empowering Israel to deal with their immediate enemies. The description of the horses and riders being struck with confusion, madness, and blindness is an apt description of what we are seeing unfold within the ranks of Israel’s enemies and their war machine today. What we find in later verses of chapter 12 as well as in portions of Zechariah 14 concerns prophetic events to unfold after the fulfillment of the events of the early verses recorded in Zechariah 12.
How should we live in light of the amazing times we find ourselves in today? Jesus said, “Watch therefore, and Pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” He specifically directs us to be aware of the times but keep our main focus on our relationship with Jesus. He has us in the palm of His hand! In the meantime, Be Imitators of the Father, as Beloved Children!
Please keep praying for the safety of God’s people who are right in the center of all we see happening. They also need our financial support so that they can provide much needed Bibles and also so they can continue teaching and training the new believers. Thank You!
Forever in His Service
Jake