Teaching Again
We postponed the teaching over the holidays but started up again last Monday. David has enough translation ready now for upcoming lessons and most of the people are back in the village now. We have been really encouraged with the attendance this week which has been way up compared to when we stopped last month. Our tarp shelter that we were using for a meeting area fell apart from wind and rain so we tore it all the way down and now we are meeting in the open. It seems that more people come when it is in the open. Good for attendance but a little harder on the teacher, due to exposure to the sun. We have about one more week of teaching to finish up the lessons on the Old Testament. The people are really anxious to get to the New Testament, and so are we!
The Purpose Of God’s Law
After doing some review our teaching resumed with lessons focusing on the ten commandments. The Simbari are no different than most people in their thinking that good behavior will earn them credits with God. (Romans 8:3) The lessons brought out that God knew from the beginning that nobody could follow the law. (Romans 3:28) God didn’t give it for the purpose of trying to follow good enough to impress Him, but rather so that people could see their sin. (Galatians 3:19) The law is like a mirror. Without it you can’t see when you have dirt on your face. Well, after going through the laws it was VERY clear to everyone that not one person can obey those laws. And according to James 2:10 if you break just one of the laws you are just as guilty before God as one who breaks them all. God’s Word really spoke to their hearts as some came to tell me privately that the teaching had “shot into their hearts” and they were concerned. Because we are ALL guilty of sin and the punishment for sin is death, what way is there to escape this punishment? By this teaching in the Old Testament the Simbaris have learned the message of Romans 3:23 and 6:23 both of which are crucial to the Gospel message. After all, Good News is only GOOD news to someone in need. Otherwise it is just plain news, and more likely to be ignored.
In Him,
David and Shari Ogg
(Esther, Simon, Rachel and Jason)
Praise and Prayer:
- Praise for the good attendance at the teaching- KEEP PRAYING!
- Pray that all would see clearly their sin and need for being saved from God’s punishment of sin.
- Praise for all the translation David got done during the break in the teaching. Pray for wisdom as he continues to translate in the book of Mark.