Ready – Set – Go!!!

On June 30, 2015September 19, 2015 By Jacob LeeIn Uncategorized

Ready – Set – Go!!!

By Carol Lee

11174943_10204168452467385_332646025247787430_n — Our visit with Preston and Laurel on our last trip to the States. We had a blast!

Jacob and I are warming up our muscles – physically AND spiritually – for a flurry of happy ministry activity. (Really and truly…I am doing exercises – safely- to try and strengthen this old body for the rigors of the Metu Mountains.)

10659446_10202735504844590_8495172931929978556_n — At Aya Baptist Church – from Preston and Laurel Sink’s last visit

First, Preston and Laurel Sink are on their way and we will be picking them up shortly! We love this couple and their desire to serve and love the people of the West Nile Region. They are from Seagrove Baptist Church in Florida. How blessed we were on our last visit to the States to finally meet, in person, our beautiful family in Christ from Seagrove Baptist who have been amazing partners of Christ’s work in this region. We have quite an itinerary prepared for Preston and Laurel in the triangle zone of our ministry efforts – Metu Mountains, Obongi and Yumbe. May the Lord strengthen us all for the plans he has laid on our hearts and may the Lord bring Preston and Laurel safely here and return them safely to their home in Florida. (They will be with us for close to two weeks.)

11277961_10204444640971925_468880648_n — In Yumbe in an unprecedented and cordial meeting between Muslim Imams and Sheikhs and Christians.

Second, this coming Saturday, on the 4th of July, Jacob will be heading to Yumbe for a second meeting with the Sheikhs and Imams with whom he met previously. He hopes to continue a friendly dialogue with them. Please be praying for that meeting. The goal is to win people and not an argument. Pray that Christ’s love for them would be the overarching message and that it would be displayed to them in Jacob’s life and in the lives of those who live and work there. Also, pray over the outline which is below and which he will be using during his part of the dialog. Jacob’s topic is “Who Is Jesus?” answering a specific question which they, themselves, asked of Jacob the last time they met.

Obongi25 — With Godfrey from Obongi Town Church on main street in Obongi

Third, the land issue in Obongi is taking some positive moves forward as negotiations have happened for a different piece of land nearby the other one, but which is more agreeable to some who were opposed to the first plot of land being sold and developed. Thank you to everyone who prayed! Please continue to pray because it’s not a “done deal” yet! The tentative agreement with all the appropriate signatures is being reviewed and discussed today.

10455060_10203223259838160_1752028902682857863_n — Clue: Ron Zeiner – in the Library – with a book!

Fourthly, not long after the Sinks return to the States, our dear friend, Ron Zeiner, will be returning (for the 3rd time) to help us in ministry. During his stay we will have 2 Leadership retreats and some outreaches to outlying areas. One of the retreat groups will be from the D.R. of Congo. Now that Lydia’s House is completed we will also be able to host women along with the men. This was previously not possible because the facilities were not conducive to mixed groups.

In anticipation of this flurry of activity Jacob has been very busy getting things ready on the campus. His brain has a file somewhere which keeps a running “to-do” list of projects. As you can see from the photos, it is a very effective list and the results could not be more beautiful!

I have been doing a few “nurse-y” things in addition to being the Photographer/bookkeeper/manager and Jacob’s chief encourager. I am restricted from doing hands-on nursing care, but I am seeing how important a part education plays in helping people understand the cause and therefore the cure and prevention of many common problems. Just today, I met with a beautiful woman who had just lost her husband, a pastor, and who was suffering from severe back pain which was induced by the heavy lifting she had to do while her husband was ill. Praying for her, caring for her personally and spending time teaching her about the things that worsen AND help back problems seemed to her more of a benefit than I had imagined. It was a mutually encouraging encounter.

I also,as you can see, am overcoming my own resistance to a beautiful cultural practice which displays the humility of Christ. As is evidenced by the smiles in the photo, it was a highly entertaining moment.

11219318_10204516504808476_549733857162064968_n — The Garden Manager

Once again, Jacob and I are immensely thankful to the Lord for this calling and for your partnering with us! We are all tangled up in this together! Thank you for loving, giving, praying and sending – and, in some cases, going! Please let us know how we can work in a time for you to personally “come and see!”

Carol (Jacob) Lee

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Who is Jesus? What True Followers of Jesus Believe and Preach
By Jacob Lee

Below are my notes for my Yumbe Sheiks and Imam Friends for our upcoming meeting. One of your questions to me when we last met was “Who Is Jesus?”

Thank you for your hospitality! Salaam Alekum!

Mark 4:35-41 “And they (the disciples) were filled with great fear and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and sea obey him?” (Verse 41). This same story can also be found in Luke 8:22-27.
*This account of Jesus calming the sea sets the context for the following three gospel stories in Mark 5 (Also found in Luke 8:26-56)
1. Demon possessed man-Mark 5:1-20
2. Woman with the flow of blood- Mark 5:25-34
3. Raising Jairus daughter from the dead- Mark 5:21-24 & 5:35-43

A very important principle when one reads and studies the Bible is “context”. One cannot understand or interpret the Bible if one does not follow this fundamental principle. Bible Verses and Bible stories fit and work together like the different parts of our bodies fit and work together.

I. Today I would like us to look at the common themes God is teaching in the three gospel stories found in Mark 5
A. Theme 1 – Jesus is at the center of each of these stories
B. Theme 2 – The hopeless situation of the people and how Jesus is the answer out of utter hopelessness
C. Let us read together Mark 5

II. Look at individual accounts
A. Demon possessed man
*Man with many demons (“legion” = 6,000 Roman soldiers)
*Long time without clothes
*Lived among the tombs – wanted to be in the place of death
*He would be bound with chains but would break them to go into desert
*Slave – demons “drove” him
*Crying out, cutting himself with stones
*Outcast in society; separated from family and friends; abandoned
*John 10:10 – “The devil comes to steal, kill and destroy, but I have come to give abundant life.”
*Unclean – physically and spiritually – lived among pigs and death; demons  “unclean spirits”
*Picture of torment, despair
*Truly without hope

B. Jairus
*Religious leader and respected in Jesus’ day and time – “ruler of the synagogue”; comparable to a Pastor or Imam
*Desperate – “little daughter” dying
*Imploring – fell at Jesus’ feet; begging for help; knew about Jesus’ healings
*Loved his daughter – clearly seen
*Feeling of hopeless – he knew death was near
*Death comes to us all, but especially painful to see a child die (“little girl”)
*Death is the result of sin in the world and no one is able to stop it
*It is the ultimate display of our helplessness
*We are unable to contain or control death – I will die…you will die!
*On the way to Jairus’ house we meet the third person in the story – another picture of hopelessness

C. Woman with the flow of blood
*we are told she suffered for 12 years without relief–12 YEARS. (The same age of Jairus’ daughter)
*spent all her money on doctors (doctors’ abilities are limited, even in America)
* “Unclean” – in Jesus’ day such a flow of blood made a person unclean; such a person was unable to attend prayers and was NOT suppose to associate with others in public
*Separated and in a situation of great shame for her and her family
*Hopeless

D. We can all relate to each story: evil, uncleanness, and death
1. Evil spirits – they are here to kill, steal and destroy and to torment us all
*What has been destroyed in your life? How have you been stolen from?
How has death come into your life?
*Jesus says, “BUT, I have come to give life and life more abundantly.” (John 10:10b)
2. Death
*How many burials have you been in the last year? Six months? Weeks?
*The Old Testament prophets talk of life as a “puff of smoke” or like a flower which is here today and gone tomorrow
*Death will grab and squeeze you! And ME!!!
*What is our hope/confidence after death????????
*On Judgment Day do you know if your sins will be paid off? Pardoned?
3. Uncleanness: all sin makes us filthy/unclean before a HOLY God.
*Outward filth is only a representative of inward filth
*We have ways to clean the body, BUT what can cleanse the heart and remove the inward shame? What proceeds from one’s mouth reveals the contents of one’s heart. This is the corruption that makes one defiled/unclean in God’s sight – SEE: Matthew 12: 34-35)
*Jesus says that what flows out of the mouth is what makes us unclean
*Matthew 15:11 “And he (Jesus) called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” Jesus answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.”And he said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.” (See also: Mark 7:14-23)
*Every single American, African. Person in the world is in a state of hopelessness and is defiled by sin.
*We ALL need divine rescuing and deliverance from: evil oppression; from uncleanness; from death. We cannot rescue, deliver, and cleanses our inward heart ourselves. We ourselves cannot remove of our shame before a holy God and live honorably before a HOLY God.

III. Jesus is at the center of each of these stories

A. The demon-possessed man (with many or “legion” demons)
*Demons fear and recognize Jesus’ authority and power
*The demons recognize who Jesus is
*Just earlier – the boat was in a raging sea; Jesus says, “Peace! Be still!”
*This man had a legion (a great number) of demons
*No man of God or prophet today or in history has ever done what Jesus had done! What Jesus did was beyond human giftedness.
*Demons say to Jesus through the man (vs. 28) “What have you to do with us, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you do not torment me.”
*Jesus gave the demons permission to leave; this demonstrates Jesus’ power and authority
*What is the result of Jesus’ power? Jesus power is motivated by LOVE.
-It brings deliverance and healing
-The man sits at Jesus’ feet; showing submission to Jesus’ Lordship
-The man was clothed and in his right mind healed of mental disturbance/cleansed/washed; and clothed.
-The people see and FEAR – they do not understand such power motivated by love; they want Jesus to leave (fear and shame keep people from experiencing Jesus’ love)
-delivered man wants to stay with Jesus (a true follower of Jesus always wants to be with Him)
-Jesus sends him on a mission: “Declare how much GOD has done for you!”
-The delivered man obeys immediately and goes about “declaring how much Jesus has done for him.”
-One who follows Jesus obeys what Jesus has commanded: “Go into the entire world and TELL!” (Mathew 28:18-20) These were Jesus’ last words before He bodily ascended into heaven where He is alive today in heaven praying for those He has called to Himself!

B. Jesus and the woman with the flow of blood
*Crowd – people were pushing in all around Jesus, touching Him
*Jesus sensed a different “touch” – a touch made in faith in Jesus’ power
*Jesus KNOWS someone touched him in “faith” and the woman KNOWS she has been healed.
*The woman was in a hopeless situation, unclean and no options left
*She acts in faith – she believes that Jesus is greater than human doctors
*Faith is like an electric wire which connects us to the Power Source
*Both, Jesus and the woman, knew – Jesus knows each person and his need; He knows YOUR need today; He responds in love to those who look to Him in faith
*Jesus does the same to those today who look to Him alone for salvation, deliverance, healing, hope, and a personal relationship with God.
*Jesus is the answer to your hopeless need (it’s no greater than the woman’s)
*Jesus heals her, cleanses her…he will do the same for you! He has for me!
*Our need is deeper than a physical healing and cleansing. We all need inner healing and cleansing. This only Jesus can give!

<What can cleanse the filth in our hearts (our thoughts and attitudes) and release us from our separation/shame before a Holy God????
<Scriptures teach us that a blood sacrifice of an innocent, pure, without defect being was needed to cleanse
-Garden of Eden – God made garments from slain animals
-Cain and Abel – made offerings but only Abel’s blood sacrifice was accepted
-Abraham and Moses – both were told to offer blood sacrifices. David and prophets made blood sacrifices.
-Jesus was announced by John the Baptist (Yahya) as, “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of world.”
-We all need the cleansing power of Jesus’ pure sacrificial blood to cleanse us of our guilt and shame and separation from God
-Those who trust in and follow Jesus receive cleansing from sin and shame

C. Jairus’ 12 year old daughter
-Jesus arrives (messenger gives word) “daughter has died”
-Jesus’ response, “Do not fear, only believe and she will be well.”
-He enters the home; crowd laughs when Jesus says, “She is sleeping.” The crowd knew she was dead
-But Jesus knew He would impart life back into her – something only God can do
* As followers of Jesus our hope is in Jesus to overcome death. Jesus said “I am the Resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” (John 11:25)
*What is your hope and assurance of heaven?
*My old bones are at rest and I am peace with God! My faith and confidence are in Jesus’ merit, His forgiveness and resurrection
*I do not have confidence in my good works to bring me to heaven
*I trust in Jesus who loves me, washed me clean from my sins through His sacrificial death. His cleansing blood has wiped my shame away and brought me into the presence of a Holy, righteous and just God
*Judgment Day is coming for us all.
*Place your trust in Jesus for your salvation
*Ask Him to reveal Himself to you – He will! Put your trust in Jesus alone for salvation
*I love you
*I will continue to pray for you!

Thank you for your hospitality! Salaam Alekum!

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Blog: www.ReachingAfricasUnreached.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ReachingAfricasUnreached

For those who have asked, small packages and letters may safely be sent to:

Jacob & Carol Lee, PO. 55, Moyo Uganda, East Africa

Our “wish lists” may be found at Amazon (Click on the “Wish List” link and type in our name or email address)

The greatest evil is having the gospel and not doing everything within our power to get it to those who do not have it. May the Lord grant each of us His followers the wherewithal to be obedient disciples! Jacob W. Lee

Tax deductible charitable donations may be made via PayPal. PayPal also has a way to make reoccurring monthly gifts. To do so please click the PayPal link. PayPal deducts a small amount from each gift as a processing fee. All gifts given through PayPal are now tax deductible as Reaching Africa’s Unreached has 501 c3 tax exempt status as a charitable organization. If you wish to write a check you may write it out to R.A.U. and mail it to Lifegate Missions, 395 Lifegate Ln., Seguin Texas 78155

Imams and Sheikhs

On June 21, 2015September 19, 2015 By Jacob LeeIn Uncategorized

“You also must help us by prayer, SO THAT many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many. (Emphasis Mine)”

2 Corinthians 1:11

I write with a heart that is full of joy “giv[ing] thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.” I know many were praying and even set their alarms so that they would be sure to be interceding while we were in our Yumbe meeting….thank you!! Zora, Mindra, and I left RAU at 8 AM Saturday morning (June 19th) for Yumbe and arrived at Pilgrim Church at 9:45 to meet Charles. We then proceeded to a Muslim-run secondary school where we met by Brother Barnabas and Yaphad. Charles said the school is their “model Muslim school” in Yumbe. We waited under a tree for awhile and then were able to move all our things into a large classroom. By 11 AM most all the Imams and Sheikhs were with us.

There were 24 Muslim men at the meeting all of which were either Imams or Sheikhs. They, as well the school officials, were all very cordial and hospitable. We met in a large science classroom. Charles and Barnabas both interpreted for me. They all knew English but in varying levels of understanding.

The very first thing we did was to give reading glasses to those that needed them (about 90% did) using the Aringa New Testament’s to test for the right strength. The Aringa New Testament celebrates its first year this month. Three of the men were national Islamic leaders, a number were northern Ugandan regional leaders Some of the Imams were also “evangelists“. Most Muslims in Uganda consider Yumbe to be the center of Islam in Uganda. I believe it is fair to say that one would have to go to (North) Sudan to find as highly a concentrated number of Muslims as are found in Yumbe. These Muslim leaders all gladly received Aringa New Testament’s, ESV Global Study Bibles, Seeking Allah Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Jesus by Nabeel Qureshi and gospel tracts in English, Aringa, Arabic and Swahili. Throughout the meeting they pledged read the literature!

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After we all introduced ourselves I was given time to give my testimony and proclaim the gospel without compromise along with a passionate call to trust in Jesus. An outline of my message is at the bottom of this post. A number of them shared as well, asked questions, made challenges, and gave comments from the Qur’an. We are looking to meet again maybe next Saturday. Numerous ones commented that this type of meeting has never happened in Yumbe… a white Christian meeting with them together in their own setting. Truly, this type of gathering could not happen except it be sovereignly designed. Brother Charles was key instrument of the Lord in organizing it. Oh, how I love the sovereignty of God! God is BOTH “sovereign” and “loving“. Muslims fully believe the former but do not fully understand God’s sovereignty and love as co-existing. Keep praying for these men that they would see the beauty of Jesus!

Positive change has been occurring in Yumbe, especially in the last couple years. In a previous personal note to some of you I shared that Yumbe Town has a population of over 35,000. Our brothers from Yumbe town tell me there are under 200 Aringa who are born again in the town which makes them .6% of the population. In the rural areas (in small geographical pockets) there are more Christians but according to believers in Yumbe the number is far lower than government estimates. Whereas most of Uganda has many evangelicals, Yumbe District, along with neighboring Koboko and Obongi Sub-County is very different in this regard. These areas certainly fit the description of a harvest field with very very few followers of Christ.

Also as mentioned in previous newsletters, Yumbe Muslims are very ardent in their beliefs. We have had three separate groups of church leaders here at RAU for retreats and they have told me many of their personal stories of persecution. I have deep love and respect for Yumbe believers! It is an honor to count them as friends.

Since our arrival here in July 2013 we have had many opportunities to be in Yumbe churches throughout the country side as well as in Pilgrim Anglican Church in Yumbe town. The Lord has also opened the door for open air preaching in and outside the town along with one-on-one evangelism in the town and rural markets. We are grateful for the Ugandan constitution which recognizes freedom of religion. This gives us and others an open door to preach in Yumbe. I long for and sense that the Lord is going to bring many to faith in these districts. You, along with us, have the privilege to be a part God’s sovereign work!

Let me affirm again, for our mutual encouragement, that God is on the move in the Muslim world and I am excited about it. Since the beginning of Islam there have been 82 movements of Muslims to Christ with its shared history with Christianity. The first of these did not occur until 13 centuries into the Muslim-Christian encounter. Of these 82 movements, 69 (84%) have taken place since 2000. ( page 230 in A Wind In the House of Islam: How God is Drawing Muslims Around the World to faith in Jesus Christ ).

We sense the Lord doing the same thing in Yumbe and Obongi! The excellent book we have been giving to Muslim seekers is Seeking Allah,Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity. We brought about 30 back with us from the States. We now are almost out. The Lord is using it to open eyes and save. It has also been a great help to me in understanding the Muslim worldview and it was a delight to read about the power of God’s Spirit at work. If anyone is so led you could buy copies at Amazon and have them shipped to Lifegate-RAU (395 Lifegate Ln., Seguin TX. 78155). They would then be packed in the RAU container which is leaving Seguin for us on July 10th.

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Other encouraging and helpful works have been Any-3: Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime — Win Muslims to Christ Now! , DREAMS AND VISIONS: Is Jesus Awakening the Muslim World? , Breaking the Islam Code: Understanding the Soul Questions of Every Muslim and The Global Gospel: Achieving Missional Impact in Our Multicultural World . Carol has read and been helped by the following books: Simple Ways to Reach Out to Muslims and Miraculous Movements: How Hundreds of Thousands of Muslims Are Falling in Love With Jesus. Most likely you have Muslims in your neighborhoods which you called to be a witness too. I know these books would be helpful to you too.

Please allow me to touch on a different but related topic. The Lord has put it on our hearts to establish an Interdenominational Bible School here at RAU which is adapted to our cultural setting. Since January of 2016 we have been a part of 7 new church plants and we see God pouring out His Spirit, establishing many more in unreached places, (e.g. Yumbe and Obongi.) The problem is that there is no place/opportunity in our region for local ones who are called to lead to get basic biblical training. Also the pastors who are here have had little to no biblically training as well. The Bible School would work hand in hand with our retreats and outreaches; RAU’s 17 acres has the perfect setting.

This how you can pray with us going forward. We are going to begin saving money little by little for two classrooms (turn key bid is at $25,000). We currently have 29 beds for students and a good library (books I have been collecting/reading since I was saved as well ones which have been given). The classrooms would help make the RAU facilities acceptable to the Ugandan gov’t so that we can give country wide acceptable certificates which is just another means of helping in the establishing new churches and strengthening current ones in our West Nile region. Please pray for us in this and be open to the Lord in helping us construct these classrooms.

Thank you for your encouragement, prayers, and support!

Jacob (Carol) Lee

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Below is the outline I used with the Yumbe Imams and Sheikhs

**Note: This outline leans heavily on the methodology found in Mike Shipman’s book **Any-3: Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime — Win Muslims to Christ Now! My adaptations fit it into our Northwestern Ugandan culture, bringing in the concept of honor/shame (See helpful treatment on this topic: The Global Gospel: Achieving Missional Impact in Our Multicultural World by Werner Mischhke) which is prevalent in the Majority World societies like ours and which is also common in the Bible. I also interpose the need for “inner cleansing”. There is great importance placed in Islam for outer cleansing. J.D. Greear in his book Breaking the Islam Code: Understanding the Soul Questions of Every Muslim has also been a great help.

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Thank you for your hospitality! Salaam Alekum!

Jacob William Lee Introduction: In September I will be 60 years old. I am married to Carol Ann for 34 years and have three grown children with two married. We have four beautiful grandchildren back in Texas USA. I grew up on an Iowa farm and worked as a builder in my 20’s. I went to University in my 30’s and received a Bachelor’s Degree. In my 40’s I received a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership. I was a teacher and headmaster for many years as well a pastor in our local church in Texas.

When I was 20 years old I became a true follower of Jesus. Jesus took away my shame and debt of sin through His sacrificial blood. Jesus has delivered me from the power of evil and has given me abundant life. I was raised in a religious home. I used to try to be a good person, so I could please God. However, I was never quite good enough. One night, after having read our Holy Book, the Bible, to help me fall asleep, I had an experience of God’s forgiveness of my sins and I knew God wanted me to have a relationship with Him and live for His glory. Even at that time I had a feeling that God wanted me to tell others about Him who have never heard about His forgiveness. I was overwhelmed because I knew God is holy and I was not. It was a joyful experience to know that a Holy God would want me to be in a relationship with HIM.

(** See note above) God is in heaven and is holy, but we on earth are unholy. Through our religion, we try to please God with our good works, but it is never quite good enough. We climb, and then fall. Climb, then fall. It is frustrating, isn’t it?

Most religions are alike, aren’t they?

We are all trying to please God, to get our sins forgiven. We are all sinners aren’t we? Even good people sin. Sinning is easy, but paying off our sin debt to God is much more difficult, isn’t it? Our sin brings shame and inner uncleanness before a holy God, doesn’t it?

In your Muslim religion what are you doing: to pay off your sin debt? To remove your shame from sin and inner uncleanness? To please God?

1). Are your sins forgiven yet?

2). Is all your shame before God now gone? Is your inner man been made clean?

3). When will your sins be forgiven, your shame be gone, and your inner man be made clean?

4). On Judgment Day, do you know for certain that your sins will be forgiven or that you will be without shame of sin and your inner man completely clean?

What I believe is different. I know my sins are completely forgiven, my shame before God has been taken away and my inner man has been made perfectly clean. This is not because I am a good person, even though I do try to be good. My sins are forgiven because God Himself has paid for my sin. The outcome of this forgiveness is that my shame before a holy God is gone and I have been cleansed within from the filth of sin through Jesus’ sacrificial blood. Satan’s power over me has been broken in my life by Jesus. I have been set free through Jesus.

Part One: Jesus

Jesus, the Word of God, was in Heaven with God from the beginning. He was born into this world through the Virgin Mary. Both the Bible and the Qur’an teach this. Jesus never sinned, even though He was tempted in every way imaginable. Jesus overcame the desires of His flesh. He never married; never killed anyone; never gathered riches for Himself. Jesus once fasted 40 days and 40 nights while being tempted by the devil, yet He never sinned.

Jesus performed great miracles. He cast out demons; healed the sick and blind; Jesus even raised the dead.

It is interesting that, though Jesus was not yet old, He began prophesying about His death. To his followers He said, “I must die, but I will rise again.” Do you know why Jesus said, “I must die?”

Part Two: Why did Jesus have to die?

The answer is found in the Taurat (the first 5 books of the Bible). The Taurat tells us about the first persons God created, Adam and Eve. God put them in a perfect paradise, called the Garden of Eden. They were given great freedom to eat fruit from any tree in the garden except for the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God warned them that if they ate of that fruit they would die.

A covering for sin

One day, Satan visited Eve in the form of a serpent and tempted her to eat the fruit that God had forbidden. She ate the fruit, and gave it to Adam, who also ate it. Immediately, they were afraid, so they hid from God. But because God knows everything, He found them and punished Adam and Eve for their disobedience.

God’s Punishment

As punishment for their disobedience, God cast Adam and Eve out of the garden paradise, and eventually they did die. God’s desire had been for them to live forever, but because of their sins, they lost paradise and died.

It is interesting that the Taurat says Adam and Eve committed just one sin and it resulted in their judgment and death. Adam and Eve seemed like good people, probably better than us. Perhaps they had already done hundreds of good works. They hadn’t killed anyone, committed adultery, or stolen anything. But they disobeyed just once and it resulted in death. Sometimes we think that if our good deeds outweigh our bad deeds that our sins will be forgiven, but that is not what the Bible says.

Promised Savior and New Clothes

Yet God still loved Adam and Eve. So He made a way for their sins to be forgiven. After pronouncing His judgment on Adam and Eve, God also judged the serpent (Satan) who had deceived them. God promised that from the woman’s descendent a Savior would come who would crush Satan’s head, although Satan would also injure Him. Over the centuries that followed, many prophets of God foretold the coming of a Savior who would take away the sins of the world.

Then God did something very interesting. He changed Adam and Eve’s clothes. God replaced the clothes made of leaves that Adam and Eve had made with new clothes made from animal skins. Of course, to make these clothes, an animal had to die. The death of an innocent animal was the price that God paid to cover the sins of Adam and Eve. Because He loved Adam and Eve, God Himself offered the first sacrifice for the forgiveness of their sins. The Bible teaches us that apart from the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:22.) Since that first sacrifice all of our forefathers have offered sacrifices to have their sins forgiven: Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David and others.

Part Three: “That is why Jesus had to die!”

And then Jesus came, born of a virgin, the descendent of a woman. Jesus lived a sinless life, and performed great miracles. At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, a prophet named John looked to Jesus and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.”

That is interesting, isn’t it? Jesus was called “the Lamb of God.” Why? Because a lamb is an animal used for sacrifice. Do you remember my question: “Do you know why Jesus said, “I must die”? That is why Jesus said, “I must die.”

Jesus came to be God’s sacrifice to pay for our sins, remove our shame from sin, and give us inner cleansing from the filth of sin. This is why He surrendered Himself to the Jewish leaders and Roman soldiers to be crucified. He was God’s sacrifice for your sins and mine.

As He was dying, Jesus cried out, “It is finished,” meaning that our sin debt had now been paid for. Then Jesus bowed His head and died. But on the third day Jesus rose from the dead, just as He had promised. For the next 40 days, Jesus appeared to more than 500 of His followers and then was taken up into heaven. We know that one day Jesus will return to earth as Judge over all mankind.

Conclusion

“That is why I know my sins are forgiven.” The Bible tells us that if we surrender our life to Jesus as Lord and believe that He has paid for our sins through His sacrifice and that God has raised Him from the dead, our sins will be forgiven. And that is why I know my sins are forgiven.

It makes sense, doesn’t it, that we cannot pay off our own sins but that God made a way for our sins to be forgiven through Jesus’ sacrifice”?

Do you believe that Jesus died as a sacrifice for our sins and was raised from the dead?

The Bible says in Romans 10: 9-10 says “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”

The way people usually surrender themselves to Jesus is through prayer. Prayer is speaking to God what is in your heart. Romans 10:9-10 is a good guide for a prayer of surrender.

May I pray for you and your personal needs?

Thank you and God bless you!

Salaam Alekum!

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