We Have This Ministry
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4: 1-6
Focus verse: 2 Corinthians 4: 1-2a "Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God."
Before you came to know Jesus as your Savior, you walked in shameful and deceptive ways. It is only because of God's mercy that we can now have a ministry of Christ. God revealed His Glory in the "face of Jesus Christ" and, having received Him, we are assigned to the ministry of teaching the truth of the Word of God.
We do not deserve to be the carriers of such a wonderful message. We were blemished with sin, but it is through Jesus that we have been made whole, clean and pure before God. The mercy that is shown to us should encourage us to continue in ministry to those who walk in darkness. We do not lose heart as we teach the truth of His mercy.
God's spirit produces courage in the believer for an open display of God's truth.
Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, October 25, 2013
Friday, October 18, 2013
Jesus IS God's Image
Scripture Reading: Colossians 1:15-20
Focus verse: Read John 10:30 where Jesus says, “I and my Father are one.”
If I ask you to describe a person that you know very well, like a parent or a brother, you might describe them, not by their looks, but by their nature. You can tell of their values, their hopes, their attitudes and their accomplishments.
How do you describe God? God is Spirit and therefore unseen. We all can see God’s creation. We can know God’s works and His ways through the scriptures and also the ways He works in our lives. But no one has seen the face of God. God was pleased to have all the fullness of himself, exist as Jesus. Jesus is the image of the invisible God. Jesus was born fully human, but without sin. He was, in flesh, the image of the invisible God. God was flesh, Jesus, and dwelt among us. (John 1:14)
When we repent of our sin, allow Jesus to forgive, and place our trust in Him, He begins to work in us to restore the image of God in which we were made. We become Christ followers, also known as Christians.
Humans are made in the image of God, but Jesus IS the image of the invisible God.
Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus verse: Read John 10:30 where Jesus says, “I and my Father are one.”
If I ask you to describe a person that you know very well, like a parent or a brother, you might describe them, not by their looks, but by their nature. You can tell of their values, their hopes, their attitudes and their accomplishments.
How do you describe God? God is Spirit and therefore unseen. We all can see God’s creation. We can know God’s works and His ways through the scriptures and also the ways He works in our lives. But no one has seen the face of God. God was pleased to have all the fullness of himself, exist as Jesus. Jesus is the image of the invisible God. Jesus was born fully human, but without sin. He was, in flesh, the image of the invisible God. God was flesh, Jesus, and dwelt among us. (John 1:14)
When we repent of our sin, allow Jesus to forgive, and place our trust in Him, He begins to work in us to restore the image of God in which we were made. We become Christ followers, also known as Christians.
Humans are made in the image of God, but Jesus IS the image of the invisible God.
Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, October 11, 2013
The Truth Or A Lie
Scripture Reading: John 14:1-14
Focus Verse: John 14:6 Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth and the life. On one can come to the Father except through me."
What is truth? Jesus said that He is truth. So the next obvious question is, "What is a lie?" Jesus gives us the answer to that question in John 8:44 "Satan was a murder from the beginning and has always hated the truth. There is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character, for he is a liar and the father of lies." So who do you take sides with? Jesus: the truth or Satan: the lies. Sometimes, if we are not careful, we can speak a lie so easily out of fear. We are afraid we will lose something if we don't lie. We may lose money, friends, or our job if we don't lie, but in the long run it will cost us even more by not telling the truth. "It is better to lose a little with honesty than a lot with lies."
"If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth." 1 John 1:6 The first lie in the Bible was told to Eve by Satan. He told her she could be like God. Many times we are tempted to make ourselves better than we really are. But we are to exalt Christ and not ourselves.
So be honest with yourself. Speak truth to others. Determine today that you will speak the truth. Christ can help you.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verse: John 14:6 Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth and the life. On one can come to the Father except through me."
What is truth? Jesus said that He is truth. So the next obvious question is, "What is a lie?" Jesus gives us the answer to that question in John 8:44 "Satan was a murder from the beginning and has always hated the truth. There is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character, for he is a liar and the father of lies." So who do you take sides with? Jesus: the truth or Satan: the lies. Sometimes, if we are not careful, we can speak a lie so easily out of fear. We are afraid we will lose something if we don't lie. We may lose money, friends, or our job if we don't lie, but in the long run it will cost us even more by not telling the truth. "It is better to lose a little with honesty than a lot with lies."
"If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth." 1 John 1:6 The first lie in the Bible was told to Eve by Satan. He told her she could be like God. Many times we are tempted to make ourselves better than we really are. But we are to exalt Christ and not ourselves.
So be honest with yourself. Speak truth to others. Determine today that you will speak the truth. Christ can help you.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, October 4, 2013
What Concerns God?
Scripture Reading: Mark 8:31-38
Focus Verse: Mark 8:33 "But when Jesus turned and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter. Get behind me, Satan! He said. You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns."
What concerns God the most? God is concerned that His will be done on earth just like in heaven. God is concerned with how His Kingdom is being built, not the kingdoms of the earth. The Kingdom of heaven begins in our hearts with love for others and obedience to God.
God is concerned that He keep His promises to us. For example, He answers our prayers. Exodus 2:24-25 says, "God heard their groaning and He remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them."
God is also concerned when you are going through hard times of suffering. He wants you to come to Him during those times for help. Sadly, many people walk away from God during times of suffering. Exodus 3:7 says, "The Lord said, I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their sufferings." God is concerned about the things we are concerned with. Today, let our prayer to God be, "Father, keep my concerns in line with Your concerns."
Bobby Johnson
Director, Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verse: Mark 8:33 "But when Jesus turned and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter. Get behind me, Satan! He said. You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns."
What concerns God the most? God is concerned that His will be done on earth just like in heaven. God is concerned with how His Kingdom is being built, not the kingdoms of the earth. The Kingdom of heaven begins in our hearts with love for others and obedience to God.
God is concerned that He keep His promises to us. For example, He answers our prayers. Exodus 2:24-25 says, "God heard their groaning and He remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them."
God is also concerned when you are going through hard times of suffering. He wants you to come to Him during those times for help. Sadly, many people walk away from God during times of suffering. Exodus 3:7 says, "The Lord said, I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their sufferings." God is concerned about the things we are concerned with. Today, let our prayer to God be, "Father, keep my concerns in line with Your concerns."
Bobby Johnson
Director, Interlocking Ministries
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