UNDERSTANDING THE WHOLE STORY
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| Anastasia: `Jesus took my sins. He is my bridge-man.` |
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May 1, 2008
by Patrick Hatcher
The Inanbimali people of Papua New Guinea have heard about the sacrificial lamb from Genesis through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, and they have responded.
The people had been waiting in anticipation for the last lesson to be taught. "Saturday afternoon we went down for the teaching and the drums fired up nearly three hours early," wrote Brooks Buser.
"Within 30 minutes the bulk of the people were there ready to go, which is a first.
"The lesson lasted for three hours and it was amazing how quiet 300 plus people can be when it is something this important. God was working, and the babies, village dogs and even the rain cooperated so everyone could stay and hear.
"As we taught the lesson you could literally watch and see the people that were understanding and putting it all together for the first time. As the concept of the Lamb of God bearing the sins of each one came out, people started smiling, nodding, and shaking their heads as what they were hearing."
The Inanbimali people don't really show bursts of emotion, and this lesson was no exception.
Even so, some couldn't hide their emotions. "They had put together what it meant to be a child of God," Brooks wrote. "Some of the older 'mamas' came around with tears in their eyes shaking our hands. … Some younger guys just kept saying thank you, thank you, thank you."
The Inanbimali people responded to the teaching:
Anastasia said "Jesus was my sipsip (sheep). He is my bridge-man. Because He carried my book I am able to cross to the other side and be in His family-group. I have been living a lie, nothing I can do can get me across to God's side, He took my sins."
An Inanbimali man named Kelly said, "Jesus is the last sacrifice … and because of Him I am on God's side. Jesus made the road open for me."
"These are snippets of long conversations that went on all night," Brooks wrote.
"Now it is on to the task of sitting down with each individual and listening, encouraging and gauging where their understanding is at. There are many that understand clearly, but also many that are almost there, just not yet. This is the task ahead of us, to get to all these people and help them understand clearly the parts that are not quite there."
Please pray for those who have responded to the Gospel, that they would have a firm foundation in Christ. Please also pray for those who are close to understanding but aren't quite there yet that they would be able to take those last few steps and accept Jesus as their savior.
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