November 3, 2001 The Fall Of Man

by

Lessons & Literacy

People are continuing to be interested in the printed lessons and many seem to be spending time reviewing them. They have already received over 100 pages of lessons. But by receiving them lesson by lesson right after I have taught, then they can remember what I taught and it helps them when looking over the lesson. (The pidgin literate people can adjust to the Simbari alphabet pretty easily) For non-readers the lessons remain a big motivation to learn to read. The literacy classes are being taught immediately following the Bible teaching each day and are going well. The 15 students are learning fast. And even though they have only learned a few letters so far, they keep trying to read the Bible lessons anyway.

The Fall of Man

The fall of man was a memorable lesson. It had everybody talking. Hearing the message in their own language is so clear. Some have heard Bible stories before but they have never heard the meanings behind the stories. Several are saying that they are retelling the lessons to other relatives who are not coming. In the lesson on the fall of man we give an illustration of how Satan deceives people. The story is quite gripping and has helped them to understand how Satan has been deceiving them and their ancestors. One man says he has been retelling the messages to his old grandmother and she was so interested that she wanted to hear it on cassette too. Not all the lessons are equally exciting but they are all laying foundations and have direct application to the Gospel message.

Attendance

During our first week we were averaging about 30 adults each day. This week it was as many as 40 adults coming each day! Praise the Lord. He is at work here. Thanks for praying for us and the Simbari.

In Him,

David and Shari Ogg

(Esther, Simon, Rachel and Jason)

Praise and Prayer:

  1. Praise for the increased attendance this last week.
  2. Pray for those already attending to hang in there each day, and for more to come.
  3. Pray for clear understanding and the Spirit of God to be convicting individuals of the truth of God’s Word.
  4. Pray that those attending the lessons would continue to share the message with other relatives.
  5. Pray for strength for us all (David -Teaching daily/translating, Shari – Literacy/homeschooling etc.) 6. Pray that nothing would distract the Simbari or hinder what God is wanting to do here.

This Week’s Teaching Highlights:

  • God knows and cares for man’s needs. Eve was created. The two were told to multiply. They were not ashamed of their nakedness.
  • Satan deceived Eve in the form of a snake. Satan is a liar. The angels that followed Satan are also liars. They are trying to stop God and His word. They want to take others along with them to the place of fire.
  • Satan is crafty and will hide himself and try to trick you. Don’t be tricked by him like Eve was! He confused their thinking about God’s Word. After hearing God’s Word Adam disobeyed and ate the fruit and immediate separation from God resulted.
  • Adam and Eve were ashamed. The tried to cover and hide themselves. The two who used to be friends with God were now afraid of Him. They couldn’t hide from God, He sees all.
  • They followed Satan’s authority instead of God’s therefore putting themselves under his rule. Satan is still doing the same things.
  • They tried to pass the blame but God already knows the truth.
  • God loves us and promised that a Deliverer would come who would defeat Satan and his rule of this world.
  • The coverings that Adam and Eve made for themselves were not acceptable to God. He killed an animal, shedding it’s blood, then made clothes from the skins to cover them. We cannot make ourselves acceptable to God. We can only come to God in HIS way.
  • They were driven from the garden lest they eat from the Tree of life.
  • Cain and Abel were born outside the garden far from the Tree of life. They were born sinners, because they were born to sinful parents. All people are born as sinners under the rule of Satan in this world.
  • Because Cain came to God in his own way, it was unacceptable. You cannot make yourself acceptable to God.
  • Abel believed God and offered his sacrifice according to God’s word. God saw the sacrifice and accepted Abel.
  • Cain’s sacrifice would have been accepted if he would have done it God’s way. Cain was angry and murdered his brother. He followed the rule of Satan, just as if Satan was his father.
  • All sin is against God. God punished Cain. Cain’s descendants continued to rebel against God.