Remember Who The Enemy Is

Remember Who The Enemy Is
Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 6: 1-7

Focus Verse: "For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against persons without bodies—the evil rulers of the unseen world, those mighty satanic beings and great evil princes of darkness who rule this world"  Ephesians 6:12

Today I was in a meeting of 12 people.  There was a decision to be made and the vote was 9 -3.  One of the three people gave a very emotional complaint after the vote because she didn't think the decision was right.  Although she doesn't agree, she has a choice to accept the vote and live in peace or choose to live in anger, lies, hate and discord.  One way shows humility, the other is pride.

I realize that people, yes, even believers are not always going to think the same way.  They are not always going to agree.  Sometimes the matter is small and other times the matter seems to be big.  The Bible reading today tells us that nothing on this earth that we argue about is greater than the heavenly judgements to come.  God tells us to have unity and love one another in humility.

When
 you
 find
 yourself
 in
 a
 dispute
 with
 a
 fellow
 Christian,
 ask
 yourself if you can accept the way things are with the help of Christ and live in peace.  If you can not find peace, 
rather
 than
 brother
 against
 brother
 going
 to
 court
 before
 the
 civil
 court of
 the
 world, shaming the church; when
 necessary,
 Christian brother
s should
 together
 seek
 out
 a
 fellow
 Christian
.  Even then, if you don't agree... In the end of the scripture 1 Corinthians 6:7 says that it is better to allow yourself to be wronged and cheated than to take a believer to court of unbelievers.

The enemy is not your brother; remember who the enemy REALLY is.  We do not fight against flesh and blood, but against the unseen enemy of evil.
Further reading: James 4

~Page Johnson
Interlocking Minstries

Community of Care

Scripture Reading:  Matthew 25:31-46

Focus Verse: "“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’" Matthew 25: 37-40

Jesus was clear in his teaching to care for our neighbors who are struggling with sickness and physical needs.  We may find that the needs are great around us and feel like we can't do much.  Jesus didn't say that we should solve all of their problems, but that there is something, even something small, that we can do.  Anyone can give a drink to someone or visit someone who is sick to pray with them.  How difficult is it to give a shirt or dress to someone whose clothes are torn and tattered.  If you don't have something, maybe you can ask some friends to help you to get some clothes for someone in need.  

When you help someone, the Holy Spirit confirms in your heart that you are doing something good.  You know that is a good feeling.  When you join together as a community to help others, then it strengthens the community. 

My prayer is that God will show me where to help someone today.  May God be glorified in any effort of care that I show to someone today.

Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Press On

Press On

Scripture Reading: Philippians 3:12-21

Focus Verse: Philippians 3:14  I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Have you ever had a day when you just didn’t feel like going on?  So many things just don’t seem to be going well.  God can give you the power through His Holy Spirit to get you back on track.  Paul says “I press on” like he is running in a race, and he’s not going to give up.  We will be determined to continue to run in this race until God calls us home and awards us a heavenly prize.  God wants us to continue to press on in the work he has given us to do.  It is always too soon to quit. 

Jesus knew the reward that was on the other side of the cross, and He didn’t quit.  We should not quit.  The life we live on this earth is so very short compared with the eternity we will spend in heaven.  Know that any difficulty that you face is only making you stronger in this life and for all eternity.  "Quitters never win, and winners never quit."  So when you feel like you can’t go on, God will help you to press on.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Clean Hearts

Scripture Reading: Psalm 51

Focus Verses: Psalm 51:10-12  “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not cast me away from Your presents, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.”

King David was called a man after God’s own heart.  How can this be, since David had committed some really bad sins like adultery and murder?  Psalm 51 is David prayer of repentance.  God knows that all of us are going to go through times when our hearts are not clean.  But what are we going to do about it?  It took David almost a year to come to the point where he was ready to repent of his sin.  Maybe you're a Christian and you have sinned.  Maybe even a really bad sin.  God is not going to put you on a shelf and say, “I’m done with you.”  No, God want you to come back to him.  God wants you to repent of that sin, just as David did.  God wants to restore you with a clean heart. 

You may need to make Psalm 51 your prayer of repentance.  It might be a good idea to commit to memory Psalm 51:10-12.  When we pray these verses to God he can give us cleansing and forgiveness.  God is longing to forgive you, not condemn you.  Let us not waste time with a heart that is not right with God.  For His desire is for us to live with clean hearts.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries