Clay Pots ~ Bark Loin Cloths, Jehovah Witness, 7 More Teaching Days, Grass Skirts, The Next Phase, and Prayers

~After the teaching on Jesus being the bread of life, a Tobo man from another village came up to me and said, "It's just too easy, I have worked all my life to try and earn my way to heaven and to be "clean" in God's eyes, and here you are telling us that all we have to do it believe in Jesus?" So I told him to listen to what Jesus said again, "I am the bread of life." And he read John 3:16 and John 6:29 again, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he sent." I asked him if God needed our help, as if God wasn't strong enough to save us? He laughed, of course not, God doesn't need our help. So then according to God's Word, do you need your works to help get you to heaven? The man shook his head and left deep in thought.

~Wednesday was the lesson on Jesus feeding the 5000 and being the bread of life. The people in Jesus day followed him across the lake in order to fill their bellies again with bread which Jesus had provided them with the day before. But Jesus just said, 'You are not following me to find me, you are following me to fill your bellies with more food... do not labor for the food that rots, but for the food that does not perish," (my paraphrase). And this is exactly what the people here are doing... they are using Jesus as a means to rice and canned meat (their version of the loaves and bread)... but what did Jesus do? He told them the true reason He came... to save their souls from sin and from Satan's rule. And many of them left Him at that time because he did not fulfill their earthly desires. The same is happening here as the true reason for Jesus' coming is being taught... they don't want to believe that he only came to save them from their sins... like Israel, they want to make him their earthly king so he can provide food and heal their diseases and so they don't have to work, but can eat till their bellies ache. But that is not why Jesus came. The group is being whittled down day by day, but we are beginning to see those who really are desiring the true bread of life.

~A plane flew in today with an Australian Jehovah Witness Missionary and his elder. They are here for the next 3 days just making sure their followers aren't coming to the teaching.

~Rumor has it on the "streets" (or should I say muddy trails?) that the cargo cult believers are going to make a stand next week and come to the teaching in their traditional clothing (bark loin cloths, grass skirts,etc). It is unknown to us what kind of stand they are intending to do at the teaching. We aren't exactly expecting a peaceful demonstration. But we would appreciate your prayers for wisdom if this rumor is in fact true.

~Tingon and I have started this week to translate lessons for the next phase of discipling believers. We are both having a lot of fun transitioning from Evangelism to Discipleship lessons!:-)

~7 more teaching days! The last 2 days (January 22nd & 23rd) will be of Christ's Death, Burial, Resurrection, and Ascension.

~Could you be in constant prayer for the next 7 teaching days? God is working in people's hearts, we can see them thinking and questioning what Satan has led them to believe.

We know God WILL have a victory here in Tobo with believers being added to His Church in the next few weeks! Get ready to rejoice with the angels!

His Clay Pots,
Jason, Kellie, Micah, Sophia, and Malachi Knapp

The Last of the Teaching Schedule For This Phase!!
January 15th: Jesus Raises Lazarus from the dead, I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life
January 16th: The Rich Young Ruler
January 17th: Rich Man and Lazarus
January 18th: The Last Supper
January 19th: Jesus is Arrested
January 22nd: Death, Burial, and Resurrection
January 23rd: Ascension