b4a story instant miracles

8/2/2019 b4a Story Instant Miracles

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We dont want you here! Take your religion with you, and be gone! The angry voice shouted sothat the whole town could hear. Dont disrupt our lives. Were happy the way we are! The man

who was shouting threw a stick in Njatas (JAH-tah) direction.

Njata turned to walk away. He felt sad because he knew that many of the townsfolk were nothappy. Several of the village people had come to him concerned about the hopelessness in theircommunity.

My neighbors feel imprisoned by their faith, Daud (DAH-oohd) had shared. They feel like theyare always working toward some unrealistic goal of being perfect. They never know if theyvedone enough to please Allah.

Yes, and my neighbor said he can never be good enough, so why bother trying? said Jaha

(JAH-hah).

Njata had warned the people to be careful how they spoke about others in their town. Eventhough they saw that some people acted badly, Christians should not gossip or speak unkindly.But his heart weighed heavy because he knew the answer to their dilemmas. Njata prayed toGod as he walked along the narrow, winding path back to his village.

He sat on a bench and opened his well-used Bible, turning to Matthew 10:38. He read, And hewho does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. Jesus disciples went intomany villages and preached the Gospel. Even though they were treated unkindly and had painfulthings done to them, they still told the Good News of what Jesus had done for them.

Njata got to his feet and returned on the path he had just walked. God had called him to tellpeople about Jesus, and he would obey the call no matter what.

Lord, lead someone across my path to talk to about You, he prayed silently as he lookedaround the open area. An old man sat on a log, bent over something. Njata headed in hisdirection and saw that the man was threading leather with twine, making a belt. Good morning,sir, he said. May I join you for a bit?

The elderly man raised his head. His hair was straggly and dirty. His hands were stained fromtobacco. Many of his teeth were missing, and the few he had were crooked and discolored. Henodded his head, and Njata squatted beside him in the sandy dirt.

Can I tell you about a man who changed my life? Njata began, as he watched the elderlygentleman shakily thread the rusty needle.Hmm, the man grunted.His name is Jesus, Njata continued, and He came to live on this earth so He could help usknow how to really live.

2010 One Mission Kids, One Mission Society.

One Mission Kids One Mission Society PO Box A Greenwood, IN 46142 317.888.3333 [email protected] www.onemissionkids.org

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Bibles for Africa

Gods Instant MiraclesAdapted by Shirley Carlson


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Njata felt a sharp sting in his right thigh. He rubbed it with his hand, and as he looked down,blood dripped from his fingers. He looked up, and around him stood three men, with rocks intheir hands, ready to throw them at any second.

We told you before to get outta here. We dont want you! here the leader snarled.

Njata rose to leave, and one of the men tripped him. Njata, with one hand on his bleeding leg andthe other holding his Bible, fell face down onto a rock. His eye throbbed, and he struggled to getup. The men towered over him, threatening to throw the rocks. Njata got to his feet, picked uphis dirty and torn Bible and limped along the lonely path out of town.

Lord, give me strength tomorrow as I return to tell them more about You.

The next morning, the men who had threatened him the day before were not all there. Only theleader saw him return. He acted a little sheepish, but still managed to direct his cruel words toNjata, Two religions are more than enough in this village, the rough man barked. Were tired of

being told what were supposed to do.

Thats where I can help you, Njata responded. My faith in God doesnt consist of a list of dosand donts. He doesnt keep a score of your successes and failures.

Well, what sort of a god is that? the tough man scorned. You cant just let anyone in! Yougotta do something good!

Njata reached across and put his hand on the mans shoulder. The man flinched, but he let Njatakeep it there. Njata said, If God accepted us for the good things we do, then some people couldboast. Instead, to make it easy for everyone, all we have to do is accept the gift of Jesus Christ.

God is happy with that arrangement.

Well, that sure is different from the religions we have around here. Ill have to think about it, hemumbled as he wandered away.

In the following weeks, Njata was a regular visitor to the village. He knew God was at work,answering his prayers for opportunities and softening peoples hearts. One day, Njata enteredthe village and was chatting with the old man who worked with leather. The leader, who now wasbecoming less threatening to Njata, came running up to him. My son is sick. No one has beenable to help him. Can you come and pray for him? he pleaded as he grabbed Njata arm andpulled him toward his small home.

Njata entered a dark and stuffy room. He walked toward the boys pallet and knelt on the cold,sandy ground. He put his hand on the boys forehead, and with his other hand, Njata held hislimp and clammy arm. God of creation, who made this young man, heal his body so that peoplewill see You are the one true God.

As Njata finished his prayer, the boys father let out a whoop, Hes better! The sickness isgone! Njata opened his eyes, and a smile spread across the boys face. He tightened his grip



Gods Instant Miracles(page 2)


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Njatas hand and said, I feel well. Let me stand up. Together, the young man, his father andNjata hugged each other in wonder. The young man had been instantly healed! Yes, this is theone true God. I want to follow Him, said the father, And so do I! said his son, Boma (BOH-mah).

Njata began teaching Boma and his father about Jesus and His life on earth and what it is to beHis follower. They heard stories of how Jesus did miracles like the one He had done for Boma.Boma longed to be able to read the Bible, but he had never been to school and didnt know howto read or write. He felt so frustrated.

One day Boma said to Njata, Njata, you saw God heal me instantly. If God could do that for meeven before I chose to follow Him, I want to believe that He can help me read and write so I canteach others about God. Do you think God will do that for me?

Njata chose his words carefully, Boma, Jesus says that if we ask anything according to His will,

He will do it for us.

I believe God will teach me to read and write miraculously, like he healed me. I really do believeHe will. I feel like He has spoken to my heart.

If that is the case, Boma, Njata responded, I will believe with you.

Boma continued to learn from Njata, and faithfully prayed and asked God to give him the abilityto read and write. He made a promise to God that he would teach others the things he learned.

Many months passed. One day, Boma opened a Bible Njata had given to him. He looked at the

letters on the page and began to read aloud to his father, And the things which you have heardfrom Me, in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able toteach others also.

Father and son looked at each other in amazement. I can read! I can read! Boma shouted as heran out of the house. He leaped up and down the streets, Bible in one hand, telling all he passed,I can read Gods Word! Listen!

Standing on a log surrounded by sandy dirt and a crowd of villagers, Boma flipped open hisBible again and scanned the page. He began, For God so loved the world, that He gave His onlybegotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

He heard a shaky old voice respond, Could you tell me a little bit more about this man whowants to help us know how to really live?

Boma still works with Njata, telling people about Jesus. Every time he opens the Bible, he isreminded that Gods gifts to him were not only healing and the ability to read and write; he alsoreceived the gift of eternal life through Jesus.



Gods Instant Miracles(page 3)

b4a story instant miracles

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