B.A.S.I.C. NEWSLETTER #244

B.A.S.I.C. NEWSLETTER #244
I Cor.. 16:9 ‘For a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
July 15, 2013
Prayers
Missionary and Mrs. Matthew Ude will be going to the Congo this week to work with our brethren.  We ask the Lord for their safe travels and work among the people.
The Mission Helpers returned safely from India. Thank the Lord for their work among our brethren in India.
———————————————–
Work in Zambia goes on in two areas, one with Pastor Yumba and the following report is from the other area with Pastor Karioki
April, 2013
The work of God in Zambia. Our daily prayer to God is to be able to teach many lost souls. God would have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
A Report on the work here in Zambia.
CLCZ MISSION WORK-Church of the Lutheran Confession, Zambia.
MONTHLY PASTORAL CLASS.
Pastoral class is conducted each month (we meet three times per week every month).We have ten evangelists, teachers and pastors attending this class for learning the CLC doctrine. And some other evangelists are taking lessons and study at their home because of the lack of fund to transport them to Lusaka. We plan to start another class in another region if possible.
The meeting mostly focuses on the fellowship with our pastors and leaders serving the Lord in different parts of the country. We have studies on different materials and also revision classes were done to advance their knowledge on the Scripture and the doctrinal issues.
Our study with pastors is based on the basic books such as : Martin Luther’s Small Catechism, My Church and Others, What the Bible and Lutherans Teach, etc.
Pastoral meetings were conducted in Shimabala for the convenience of our evangelists, teachers and Pastors.  In average, 15 attend the meeting and learn from the Word. Not only that, even women had their class which was conducted by Vanessa Ude(wife to pastor Matthew Ude).Women were very happy to have their class because they are supposed to learn their roles in the church. They still request more visits next time if possible.
We planned to reach some other places  with pastor Matthew Ude but we failed because of rain(It was rainy season).It could be good if you will manage to visit us around June to October.
We had a seminar with Pastor Matthew Ude in Shimabala. There were average of 15 pastors ,teachers and leaders from the different congregations. Not only that we had many kids attend there for their seminars also. We had many children attend in their seminar. They were hungry spiritually and physically, then we provided to them food as Jesus did when he preached and provided fish and loaves. They were taught by Pastor Matthew Ude’s wife(Venessa).We sang together, danced together and prayed together for the glory of God. The seminar was effective and it helped to broaden our knowledge on the role of men, role of women in the church and various doctrinal issues.
PUBLICATION AND DISTRIBUTION
We are praying to translate and publish small song books which we can use in our Sunday services. These songs will be in local language and English which will help us to praise God in the church. This year we lacked publication works, we are praying for the translation and publication of song books so that the CLCZ can be enriched with the Word of God and true doctrinal knowledge.
CHURCH CONSTRUCTION
This year the Lord blessed the CLCZ with one new church building. We are thankful to the Lord and His provision through our generous brethren who share their resources with us.
The church construction was held in Shimabala, now the church is growing in the number of believers.  CLC Bd. of Missions provided USA money.This fund helped us to prepare some benches but we need more. Materials for making benches are very expensive here in Zambia.
We conduct house to house evangelism as our way which is helping us to reach many lost souls and to let them know the CLCZ doctrine. We face lots of challenges but never stop us to speak the truth where needed. Pray for us here in Zambia as we pray for you.
We managed to start two kindergarten schools in our buildings so that we can teach kids secular knowledge and Bible knowledge as well. We lack with teaching aids and support in this area. Some parents started to attend Sunday services after sending their kids in this class. This is one of the ways we preach to the society through teaching their kids.(We request from CLC Bd. of missions to help us in this area also. We need short time teachers and teachings aids).REMEMBER;SOME  kids in these classes are orphanage, single parent and from poor family. We would like to provide them the food ,clothing, education, medication and other things as well but because of our economy we fail. Please we need help in this area also.
YOUTH FELLOWSHIP.
After three months we are conducting one day youth fellowship with the different churches and sometimes we are excited with the consequences of the fellowships.  The youth are encouraged in the ministry and they are involved in the ministry as well.
We are praying and planning to manage the youth fellowship in an orderly fashion, i.e. providing them the proper guidelines for the youth fellowship, which could be effective and fruitful to our congregations.
Thanks to CLC Bd of mission, Pastor Matthew Ude and his wife(Vanessa),Pastor Yumba from Congo who provided his vehicle and CLCZ for working as a team.
Presented by the CLCZ.
——————————————————————————–
SACRIFICE  part 2
The Law of Moses 

As we look over what God commanded for His people through Moses we see an emphasis on blood sacrifice which points to THE blood sacrifice of Christ, the blemish-free Lamb. “For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices which are continually offered year after year, make perfect those who draw near…For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins….we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Heb. 10:1-10 There were those foolish in Israel that thought simply by going through the motions of sacrifice all would be well, a mere outward formalism. How mistaken and shallow as they were missing the deep and abiding implications of the sacrificial code of Moses.

 

The blood sacrifice involved:

• a burnt offering in which the whole animal was sacrificed,

• a guilt offering in which part was burned and part left for the priest,

• a peace offering in which part was burned.

 

In going through Leviticus we see the following:

 

• Ch. 1 has the burnt offering which was to be a male without blemish and an animal designated according to the wealth of the people. It was a propitiation for general sin and demonstrates dedication.

 

• Ch. 2 has the meal or tribute offering which had a portion burned and the priest ate also. This was of unleavened cakes or grains. It was in general thankfulness for first fruits.

 

• Ch. 3 and 22:18-30 has the peace offering which could be a thank offering, vow offering, or freewill offering. It was of fat portions and was used in a fellowship meal of the priest and offerer. It was to be a male or female without blemish according to wealth. For the freewill there could be a slight blemish. This was in thankfulness generally, maybe for an unexpected blessing and for deliverance in connection with a vow. It was not a matter of sacrifices in order to get but in thankfulness for what God does.

 

• Ch. 4 has the sin offering which was the fat portion eaten by the priest. For a priest of congregation it was a bull; for a king it was a he-goat; for an individual a she-goat. This has to do with purification.

 

• Ch. 5-6:7 has the guilt offering which was the fat portion eaten by the priest. It was a ram without blemish. This was to be when there was a desecration or some objective guilt.

 

Even in this overview it has to be taken into account that the mere doing of the sacrifice is not what God wanted. The hypocrite was warned “to obey is better than sacrifice.” 1 Sam. 15:22 While these sacrifices and offerings were to be done continually among God’s people, they pointed to the ultimate – “to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” Heb. 9:26 “He did this once for all when He offered up Himself.” Heb. 7:27 The blood and death, the blemish-free requirement, all pointed to the Messiah. He is that fragrant offering and sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.

 

Leviticus sixteen has the great day of Atonement on which there was that blessed double assurance of forgiveness. Is. 40:2 After Aaron was to offer the bull as a sin offering for himself, “Then he shall take the two goats, and set them before the Lord at the door of the tent of meeting; and Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats, one lot for the Lord and the other lot for Azazel. And Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for the Lord, and offer it as a sin offering; but the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel shall be presented alive before the Lord to make atonement over it, that it may be sent away into the wilderness to Azazel.” 16:7-10 The Day of Atonement was once in the year reminding us of the once for all of Calvary. Sins are covered once for all, one day out of the year and remitted, sent away. As far as sin abounds, grace does much more abound.

 

“Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” Heb. 9:22 There is more as in the killing of the blemish-free lamb for the Passover. As the baptizer said, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”

 The Application of Sacrifice for Us

 

We do not sacrifice in our lives in order to obtain from God. We already have the remission of sins and all that flows from that. We like God’s people always sacrifice in thankfulness and appreciation.

 

As Christ was the sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God by which we have His blessing, so now we make sacrifices acceptable and pleasing to God because of Christ’s work already done. Paul refers to the Philippians support of his work as such a sacrifice. “I have received full payment, and more; I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.” Ph. 4:18 The Philippians supported the work of Paul beyond their city. So also we give up for ourselves and for our local work to support work beyond our locality. This putting others ahead of ourselves is what Christ did in His great sacrifice.

 

Peter reminds us that the sacrifices we make are a spiritual thing and not physical or material, “and like living stones be yourselves built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1 Pet. 2:5 So often people are materialistic and not so willing to part with their earthly goods. The spiritual must come first and we need to look at things through this viewpoint. When we do for Him and our brethren, it is a spiritual thing even though it can involve material things.

 

Paul dwells on this same point as Peter’s “living stones” when he writes, “I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” Rom. 12:1 We have been bought with a price, His holy precious blood and innocent sufferings and death. In turn we offer ourselves, not just a part or some possessions, to Him in worship. And this is a continual thing as long as we live here in the kingdom of grace until we are transferred to the kingdom of glory.

 

In the letter to the Hebrews it is spelled out that the spiritual means giving the physical not only to God but to our brothers also. “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” Heb. 13:16 Count others better than yourselves and do for them even before you do for yourself is hard, though that is what Christ did and beckons us to do. And then there is that other sacrifice that is hard to make due to our pride, “Through Him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name.” Heb. 13:15 To God alone must go all the glory both now and forever

………………………………………

 

Pastor David Koenig