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RECOGNIZING AND DEVELOPING THE EVANGELIST WITHIN THE BELIEVER PART 7: WHEN A MIRACLE BECOMES A MESSAGE

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RECOGNIZING AND DEVELOPING THE EVANGELIST WITHIN THE BELIEVER PART 7: WHEN A MIRACLE BECOMES A MESSAGE 2 Kings 5:15–19 In Part 6, we examined the moment when Naaman obeyed the instruction given by the prophet Elisha to wash seven times in the Jordan River. At first, Naaman resisted because the instruction seemed too simple for someone of his status. But when he humbled himself and obeyed, his leprosy disappeared and his body was restored. We learned that God’s power flows through obedience. The river that Naaman almost rejected became the place where his miracle happened. But the story does not end with physical healing. Something even more powerful followed. The Miracle That Changed His Belief After his healing, Naaman returned to the prophet with a completely different attitude. The proud military commander who once demanded recognition now stood with humility. And he made a powerful declaration: “ Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel.” This statement is ...
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RECOGNIZING AND DEVELOPING THE EVANGELIST WITHIN THE BELIEVER PART 6: THE RIVER OF OBEDIENCE

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RECOGNIZING AND DEVELOPING THE EVANGELIST WITHIN THE BELIEVER PART 6: THE RIVER OF OBEDIENCE   2 Kings 5:8–14 In Part 5, we examined the story of the young Israelite servant girl in the house of Naaman. Though she was a captive and a servant in a foreign land, she carried within her the knowledge of God. With a simple statement, she directed Naaman toward the prophet in Israel who could heal him of his leprosy. Her testimony reminds us that God often hides evangelists in ordinary people and unexpected places. What looked like tragedy in her life became God’s strategy to reach a powerful military commander. Through her voice, the journey of Naaman’s healing began.  Now the story moves to a deeper stage—the test of obedience. Naaman Meets the Prophet When Naaman finally arrived in Israel, he expected something dramatic. He was a great commander, used to honor, ceremony, and recognition. He likely expected the prophet to come out personally, perform a spectacular ritual, and inst...
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RECOGNIZING AND DEVELOPING THE EVANGELIST WITHIN THE BELIEVER PART 5: THE LITTLE WITNESS IN NAAMAN’S HOUSE

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RECOGNIZING AND DEVELOPING THE EVANGELIST WITHIN THE BELIEVER PART 5: THE LITTLE WITNESS IN NAAMAN’S HOUSE 2 Kings 5:1–5 In Part 4, we saw how the nations began to spread after the flood through the sons of Noah. Through Ham’s sons — Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan — entire regions of Africa and the Levant were populated. We observed how Cush’s descendants settled in Ethiopia, while Canaan’s descendants occupied the Levant, which includes regions known today as Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, and parts of Jordan. This showed us that God was strategically positioning nations and territories long before the gospel began to spread in the New Testament. History, geography, and generations were all quietly aligning with God’s greater plan of salvation. Today we move to another powerful story that reveals how God often hides evangelists in the most unexpected places. The Story of Naaman The Bible introduces us to a powerful military commander named Naaman. Naaman was the commander of the army of ...
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RECOGNIZING AND DEVELOPING THE EVANGELIST WITHIN THE BELIEVER PART 4: THE BIRTH OF NATIONS — GOD POSITIONING PEOPLE FOR HIS PLAN

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RECOGNIZING AND DEVELOPING THE EVANGELIST WITHIN THE BELIEVER PART 4: THE BIRTH OF NATIONS — GOD POSITIONING PEOPLE FOR HIS PLAN Genesis 10:1–20 In Part 3, we studied Noah and the Ark, and saw how God used him as a preacher of righteousness even in a corrupt world. We discovered that: The ark was not just a boat but a divine message of salvation. The animals entering two by two, clean and unclean, symbolized God’s inclusive grace. Noah’s obedience illustrated that faithful witness in difficult times is evangelism in action. Now, after the flood, humanity began to spread across the earth, and God’s strategy for salvation continued through nations and families.   The Sons of Noah and the Spread of Nations After the flood, Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Ham had four sons: Cush — associated with regions in Northeast Africa (Nubia, Ethiopia, Sudan) Mizraim — associated with Egypt Put — associated with North Africa (Libya) Canaan — settled in the Levant, the region that...
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RECOGNIZING AND DEVELOPING THE EVANGELIST WITHIN THE BELIEVER PART 3: NOAH’S ARK — THE FIRST GLOBAL PICTURE OF SALVATION

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RECOGNIZING AND DEVELOPING THE EVANGELIST WITHIN THE BELIEVER PART 3: NOAH’S ARK — THE FIRST GLOBAL PICTURE OF SALVATION Genesis 6:5–8, Genesis 7:1–3 In Part 2, we discovered that evangelism did not begin in the New Testament. It began in creation itself. When God created humanity in His image and commanded them to multiply and fill the earth, His intention was that the knowledge of Him would spread across the world. We also established an important truth: every believer is called to evangelize, even though not everyone operates in the office of the evangelist. We also defined two important concepts: Recognition – identifying what God has already placed inside you. This recognition may come personally or through others who notice the grace of God upon your life. Development – nurturing and growing that calling into maturity. Today we move further in Scripture to examine one of the earliest pictures of salvation and evangelism in the Bible. The Corruption of the World By the time we r...
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RECOGNIZING AND DEVELOPING THE EVANGELIST WITHIN THE BELIEVER PART 2: THE EVANGELISTIC MANDATE FROM CREATION

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RECOGNIZING AND DEVELOPING THE EVANGELIST WITHIN THE BELIEVER PART 2: THE EVANGELISTIC MANDATE FROM CREATION Genesis 1:26–28 In the previous message, Part 1: The Birth of the Message, I shared how this teaching series came into being. It was not originally planned as a series. But through prayer, meditation, and deeper study of Scripture, the Holy Spirit began revealing a pattern that runs through the Bible. From Genesis, through Noah, to Naaman, and eventually to the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8, we begin to see something remarkable: God has always been preparing witnesses to carry His message of salvation. What initially looked like unrelated Bible stories gradually revealed a divine connection. Another striking discovery was how God often uses tragedy as a strategy to spread the gospel. Situations that appear negative, painful, or accidental are often the very tools God uses to position His witnesses. That discovery led us to the theme of this entire series. Recognizing and Developing...
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RECOGNIZING AND DEVELOPING THE EVANGELIST WITHIN THE BELIEVER PART 1: THE BIRTH OF THE MESSAGE

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RECOGNIZING AND DEVELOPING THE EVANGELIST WITHIN THE BELIEVER PART 1: THE BIRTH OF THE MESSAGE Acts 8:26–40 Sometimes a message is prepared. Other times, a message is discovered. This message was discovered during my preparation to study the story of the Ethiopian eunuch in the book of Acts. At first, my focus was simply on the encounter between Philip the Evangelist and the Ethiopian traveler on a desert road. But as I began to research the passage more deeply, something unexpected began to happen. The story began to expand. It was no longer just a story about two men meeting on a road. It was part of a much larger story that had been unfolding for generations. 1. The Study That Led Backward While studying the Ethiopian eunuch, I realized that the man was not just an individual traveler. He was an Ethiopian. That observation pushed my study further back into the Bible. Where did Ethiopia appear in Scripture? That question led me to the genealogies of nations in the Book of Genesis. Th...
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DEALING WITH DIABETIC WOUNDS – A BALANCED DEVOTIONAL SERIES PART 1: RECOGNIZING THE WOUND – THE FIRST STEP To HEALING

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DEALING WITH DIABETIC WOUNDS – A BALANCED DEVOTIONAL SERIES PART 1: RECOGNIZING THE WOUND – THE FIRST STEP To HEALING Revelation 2:4-5 "You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first."  Not every wound bleeds. Some deteriorate quietly beneath the surface—unseen, unfelt, and unspoken—until it's too late . Just like a diabetic wound that looks minor at first but spreads when ignored , many of life's deepest issues— spiritual, emotional, physical, and even national—start small . But delay is dangerous . Healing begins when we are humble and honest enough to recognize the wound. Key Scripture: " You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first." – Revelation 2:4-5 LIFE APPLICATION: Two years ago, a friend called me, asking for blood donation for his father-in-law, who was scheduled for a leg amputation at the 3...
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JUMPSTARTING YOUR LIFE—THE POWER OF DIVINE CONNECTIONS PART 8:WHEN IT’S TIME FOR AN UPGRADE—LETTING GO OF THE OLD TO EMBRACE THE NEW

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THE STORY: A FRIEND FACED WITH A HARD DECISION Romans 1:11-12 (NIV) "I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. Welcome to Part 8 of our Series, Jumpstarting Your Life: The Power of Divine Connection.  In Part 7 , we saw how my landlady’s son, who had once been stranded, later became a helper to another driver stuck in the mud . We learned that helping others after receiving help is a key principle of life , and sometimes, we must recognize when we need assistance instead of struggling alone. But what if the real issue isn’t about getting help but knowing when to move on? PART 8: WHEN IT’S TIME FOR AN UPGRADE—LETTING GO OF THE OLD TO EMBRACE THE NEW THE STORY: A FRIEND FACED WITH A HARD DECISION I have a friend named Kwame who had been driving an old car for years . It wasn’t just any car—it had been his first car, filled with memories. One day, after heavy rain, he...
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THE LIFE CYCLE OF SIN AS CHILDBEARING PART 2: THE GROWTH AND DEATH OF SIN

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THE LIFE CYCLE OF SIN AS CHILDBEARING PART 2: THE GROWTH AND DEATH OF SIN  James 1:15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.  RECAP of Part 1 In the previous chapter, we explored how sin begins with Conception (desire) and grows when nurtured, much like a child in the womb. Today, we will continue with Maturity and Birth, where sin becomes visible through our actions, and finally Death, the ultimate consequence of unchecked sin. Let’s explore these final stages and understand the seriousness of allowing sin to grow unchecked in our lives. Then, after desire has conceived , it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown , gives birth to death . James 1:15 (NIV) 3. Maturity and Birth Sin gives birth to full-grown actions. Just as a child reaches full maturity in the womb before birth, sin, once nurtured, reaches its full stage and manifests as outward actions. What began as hidden desire now becomes v...
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