All Together

All Together

Scripture Reading:  Acts 2:40-47

Focus Verse: Acts 2:42 "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers."

Sometimes when I preach in Kenya and I see many people accept Christ I wonder if they all knew what they were doing, and if they understand.  What kind of life do believers have after receiving Christ?  What should it look like to begin a Christian community.

As we continue our devotional study on "Christian community" let's observe a few things about the early church in Acts.  In this passage we see that about 3000 people were saved when Peter preached.  We see that right away these new believers were united with the other believers.  Verse 42 says they had fellowship with them, continued in the doctrine (teachings), they shared in the Lord's supper together, and they prayed together.

We see that these early believers shared what they had so that all could benefit from God's gifts.  Sometimes governments of some countries take taxes from those that earn money and then give to those that are in need.  Its a nice plan, but God says that it is the church's responsibility to help those in need, not just the government's.  When the outside world sees the church helping each other they will know something is different.  But so many times the outside world sees the church divided and not able to get along with each other.  This is damaging to our testimony.

A healthy Christian community attracts people to Christ.  The early church's passion for worship and love for each other was contagious.  A church that is healthy and loving will grow in numbers.  What can you do today within your church that will attract others to Christ?  Who is in need that you can help?


Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Peace on Earth

Peace On Earth by Boyd Bailey
Bible Readings: Jeremiah 33:9; Zechariah 9:10; Colossians 1:20; Revelation 1:5
Focus Verse: Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men! Luke 2:14 NKJV

Peace on earth begins with peace in the hearts of people. Outward peace is the product of inward peace. Once a soul has experienced peace with God there is a serenity that seeps into human relationships and calms the rough waters of conflict. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand” (Romans 5:1-2).

It is a grace based belief system that allows citizens and countries to get together and accept one another’s differences. Without conversations of grace, there is no context for peace. Indeed, nations that believe “might is right”, with whom forgiveness is a foreign language, will remain restless with no peace in sight. However men, women, children and governments who embrace reconciliation will experience an incomprehensible peace.

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). Jesus came to earth first and foremost as a peace envoy on behalf of Almighty God. Do you have peace in your heart this Christmas season? Or is there restlessness in your soul that needs the comfort of Christ’s peace? The peace of God is your best prescription for insomnia. Peace brings deep abiding sleep.

Does this mean that we can experience 100% peace on earth? No, because the truth is divisive and not everyone believes the truth. So while Jesus is the “Prince of Peace”, listen to His challenging words, “Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three” (Luke 12:51-52).

So what is the role of Christians in promoting peace on earth and good will toward men? Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called the sons of God” (Matthew 5:9). Followers of the Lord know grace best governs relationships, families, cities and countries. It is God’s grace that allows you to influence the process of peace.

So, stand for the truth in a spirit of grace and humility this Christmas season, and trust God for His peace to reign in your heart and in the hearts of those around you. Take the high road of heaven and proclaim in celebration of Christ’s birth, “Peace on earth and goodwill toward men.” Christmas is God’s gift of peace in the person of His son Jesus.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I praise You for the peace on earth You offer through Your son and our Savior Jesus Christ, in His name I pray, amen.

Application: Am I submitted to God, and am I allowing His peace to reign in my heart and mind? How can I, in humility and love, bring peace to a hard family issue this holiday season?

Real Faith

Real Faith

Scripture Reading:  Hebrews 11: 1-16

Focus Verse:  Hebrews 11: 3  “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.”

Do you have real faith?  Can you believe what you haven't seen?  Scientists have written hundreds of books on the origin of the universe.  But we, as Christians, have the faith that God spoke it into existence.  In fact everything was spoken into existence by God.  We can only understand this if we have faith.  None of us has seen God.  None of us were there when God created everything.  We take these things by faith.  Hebrews 11:3 is a good definition of real faith.  “We know that what can be seen was made out of what cannot be seen.”  Anybody can take something and mold or fashion it into something else. Example, a business can make an automobile or vehicle.  But only God can create from nothing.  Everything that we see around us teaches us to trust in a God that we cannot see.  That is Real Faith.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Grateful to God

Grateful to God  by Boyd Bailey

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. 2 Corinthians 2:14

Gratitude to God is a guarantee for an attitude of humility and happiness. It is hard to be grateful and not be full of joy and contentment. When we reflect on His salvation and grace in Jesus Christ, we are left awestruck that almighty God would freely give us the gift of His only Son. Indeed, grateful Christians never get over the forgiveness and freedom they have in Christ Jesus. Gratitude gives us the right attitude!

How can we renew our thinking each day to be appreciative when so many negative thoughts assault our minds? What is a wise process to keep us praising God for His provision? One way is to recount His blessings by writing them in a journal. Take the time to pen what the Lord has done for you, and your sorrow will turn into a smile of satisfaction. Your glow comes back when you remember Christ’s incredible love and acceptance. When was the last time you spent your entire prayer time just praising and thanking God?

“Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness” (Psalm 150:2).

Perhaps you praise Him in the morning for life and love. Praise Him midmorning for fulfilling work. Praise Him at the noon hour for health and happiness. Praise Him midday for forgiveness and faith. Praise Him at dinner for family and friends. Praise Him before bed for His Word and the wonder of His grace. Praise God, and gratitude will follow.

Your gratitude goes a long way in leading others to be grateful. A grateful life is like a sea of thanksgiving that buoys all boats with hope. Appreciation attracts great people. Your thanksgiving to God for His favor and blessings and for the incredible people in your life sets you up for success. Gratitude is a self-fulfilling prophecy for peace, joy, and love.

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17).

Enter into His gates with Thanksgiving and into His courts with Praise.  Be thankful to Him and bless His name, for the Lord is good. Psalm 100:4

O, give thanks to the Lord for He is good!  His mercy endureth forever. 1 Chronicles 16:34

Giving Thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20

In everything Give thanks, for this is the will of God in Jesus Christ for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

We Love

Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 13 and to go deeper 1 John 4:7-21
Focus Verse: "We love because he first loved us." 1 John 4:19 and "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35

We love.  Why are Christians to be known by our love? (John 13:35)  The root of the answer is because God is love. (1John 4:8)  Notice that I said that God IS love and that is better than God loves because love is not just something that God does, but it is the essence of who He is. 

Because God is unfailing love, He would not leave us in our sin, but sent his only son Jesus, to take the sin punishment in our place. (John 3:16)  No greater love is there than this. The failure in humanity (sin) was a reason to love all the more, because it is needed and not because it is deserved.

Because we have been redeemed and have experienced the greatest love known to mankind, we can, in turn love others as God has commanded us to do.  Love, even if love isn't returned. (2 Cor. 12:15)

Because our flesh often gets in the way due to our selfishness, pride, self-righteousness, and unforgiveness, loving others can be a challenge and we often do a poor job of representing our role as a Christian.  Paul so loved the Corinthians that though they didn't love him in return, he continued to love them. (2 Corinthians 12:15)

Because we are not left alone in our struggle to love one another, we can allow the Holy Spirit to show us our sin and convict us of the lack of love in our lives.  We can approach God in confession and ask Him to work in our hearts to love others as the Holy Spirit equips us to do so.

Love should be who we are.  Loving others is not our achievement to be proud of, but the work of God in our lives that we can praise Him for.  Love should be flowing through so that others may understand our Heavenly Father and praise Him.  We love imperfectly, but God loves perfectly.

I recently went to a funeral of a lady named Pearl.  She was not considered accomplished by the world's standards, but her legacy was that of love.  She cared for the children in the church as their parents could go to worship without being disturbed.  She loved each child completely and they each thought they were favored.  I know this well, because she also cared for my children and they knew that she loved them well.  She loved the parents and the pastors.  She loved in a way that was not just flat, but deeply, even telling truth in love sometimes. A failure in another person was a reason to love all the more because it is needed, not because it's deserved.  She loved.  We love.

Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Settled in Heaven

Scripture Reading: Psalm 119:89-136

Focus Verses: Psalm 119:89-90, 129-130  “Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in Heaven.  Your faithfulness endures to all generations,  You established the earth, and it abides.  Your testimonies are wonderful, therefore my soul keeps them.  The entrance of Your works give light, it gives understanding to the simple.”

It is said “the only permanent thing in this world is change.”  But there is something that is absolutely permanent.  God’s Word is here in in scriptures and will last for all eternity.  The Bible says “the word of the Lord is settled in heaven.  The Hebrew word for settled means, absolutely, irrevocably, and fixed.  Most of the millions of words we speak here on earth will one day be forgotten.  But God’s words will still be truthful trillions of years from now.  People have tried to destroy God’s word, say it has contradictions, say it is irrelevant for today.  Don’t believe any of that.  The Bible is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  It is our guide for life.  So let God’s Word that is settled in heaven, also be settled in our hearts.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Walking Step by Step

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 4: 7-18

Focus Verses: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18   Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

As we walk through this Christian life we understand that we will go through difficult times.  Most times we would like to see what is ahead for us, especially when difficult times are coming.  Sometimes we even face storms in life when are doing our best to be in a right relationship with the Lord.  You may have read the verse in Psalm 34:19 that says “many are the afflictions of the righteous”.  But sometimes we fail to read the rest of the verse that says “But the Lord delivers us from them all.” 

Today's scripture reading tells us to make a comparison between the temporary with the eternal.  The light afflictions we have here on earth compared to the glory of heaven,  and the seen to the unseen.  If we have the right perspective on life with God’s help we can endure any trial by taking it one step at a time.  The unseen of heaven one day we will see.  Then the trials of this world will just be a faded memory.  So take this journey with the Lord step by step and remember to look for the unseen eternal.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Christian Celebrities

Christian Celebrities  by BoydBailey
Bible Readings: Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 3:20-23, 4:6; Romans 8:31-34

Focus Verse^{: "}For some members of Chloe’s household have told me about your quarrels, my dear brothers and sisters.  Some of you are saying, “I am a follower of Paul.” Others are saying, “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Peter,” or “I follow only Christ.”Has Christ been divided into factions? Was I, Paul, crucified for you? Were any of you baptized in the name of Paul? Of course not!  1 Corinthians 1:11-13

Christian celebrities sometimes create quarreling factions, but followers of Christ are not on theological teams competing to win. There is no competition in the Kingdom of God, yet human nature yearns for a hero. People want someone they can see who stands for excellence in eternal matters. This admiration for those who are extremely gifted in teaching, speaking, writing, and leadership is not bad in and of itself.

Factions occur when people proudly perceive their leader to be superior to all other servants of the Lord. They get caught up in the man or woman, and look down on others who are not as “successful.” It is immaturity that promotes a person instead of the Lord. When Jesus is lifted up and the focus of everyone’s attention, all are united around Him!  Therefore, Jesus brings unity, Celebrities bring division.

“And I, if and when I am lifted up from the earth [on the cross], will draw all people to Myself [Gentiles, as well as Jews]” (John 12:32, AMP).

There is an ugly co-dependence that is created by celebrity worship. The line between leader and Lord becomes blurred when followers begin to deify a gifted man or woman. It becomes cult worship when Christian celebrities are not challenged or questioned. This is a warning for megachurches: Make sure the man does not become the center of attention over Christ.

The pastor is called to equip the saints and exalt the Savior, while awe is reserved for Almighty God. You help your pastor by keeping him off a pedestal. Pedestals produce pride and give a pastor a downward-looking perspective. Honor him, yes; worship him, no. Leaders who compete with Christ are in danger of losing God’s blessing. The accolades of man are cheap substitutes for God’s eternal rewards.

However, there is an effective approach to diffusing this determination to create Christian celebrities. Gifted pastor/leaders can reject “rock star” status by addressing in their teachings, the dangers of admiring a man more while loving the Lord less. Parishioners who worship and fear God are to first walk away from Sunday sermons in awe of God, not enamored of or entertained by man. If the purpose of worship becomes engagement with a person’s personality to the exclusion of eternal accountability, a destructive and dysfunctional environment is brewing.

Teaching and leadership are meant to be catalysts for Christ-centered living. A wise leader makes sure that worship services become launching pads for truth, as he points people to Jesus. Therefore, do not crave the role of Christian celebrity. It doesn’t show maturity. Maturity means you decrease and He increases (John 3:30). Deflect any attention that is reserved for the Almighty. Authentic leaders, teachers, and pastors pour themselves out for Christ’s sake. They use subtle acts of service—such as feeding the poor—to keep themselves humble.

Your Master is the main attraction, so celebrate Christ through worship, prayer, Bible study, and service. He is your Christian celebrity. 

“So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me” (John 8:28).

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I lift up Jesus alone in praise, worship and adoration. Keep my affections and admiration fixed on Him and on no man, in His name I pray.

Application: Am I following and trusting a celebrity instead of placing my faith in Christ?

God’s Leaders Have a Higher Standard

God’s Leaders Have a Higher Standard  by Boyd Bailey

Bible Reading: Titus 1:6-9
Priests… must be holy to their God and must not profane the name of their God. Because they present the offerings made to the LORD by fire, the food of their God, they are to be holy.   Leviticus 21:6

Ministers of the Gospel submit to a higher standard and answer to a holy authority. There is something special and fearful about being a vocational servant of Jesus Christ. This is not a role to be undertaken lightly or to be chosen casually, as some secular career paths. God places eternal expectations on priests, pastors, and ministry leaders. Leaders in the church have the Lord as their baseline for behavior. Deviant behavior is unacceptable for those who lead on behalf of the Lord.

The leader’s character is his greatest asset or his greatest downfall. Someone cannot determine acceptable behavior based on what he wants when the Bible and church history have already defined the standard. How hypocritical and foolish to think leaders can flaunt immoral behavior when church members are disciplined for the same sin. Double standards may be for the uninformed and the unaccountable, but not for faithful and educated followers of Christ. How surreal to need to declare that character in the church matters! A church or ministry leader cannot practice immoral living and still lead the Bride of Christ. They cannot practice homosexuality, adultery, stealing, or lying. They cannot practice unfaithfulness in any of its destructive forms.

“An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly o the trustworthy message as it has been taught so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it” (Titus 1:6-9).

There is a holy obligation for leaders to model and teach holy living as defined in God’s Word. Holiness is not a creation of culture but defined by God. Leaders of God’s church and ministry are to be holy as He is holy. Therefore, you can’t say you are a leader on behalf of Jesus Christ if you embrace and endorse the very sin for which He died on the cross. It would be the epitome of hypocrisy to do so.

If someone is bent on breaking 2,000 years of church tradition and 4,000 years of Biblical teaching, then he should do it in the name of another religion, not on behalf of Christianity. Do not use the Bible to defend your lame living in the name of the Lord, or the church as a crutch for crude behavior. Wake up to the fact that you have a heavenly Father to whom you will one day answer. Yes, He loves. Yes, He forgives. But above all else, He is holy. If anyone is hell-bent on hellish living, the church cannot condone it.

Where does the church draw the line for unholy living? The closer the line moves toward compromise, the deeper the church is absorbed into the culture. We lose our saltiness and dim our light. We become good for nothing and are trampled under the feet of fools. It must be laughable to the Lord that deviant behavior in church members, much less church leaders, is even up for debate.

Holy leaders do make people thirsty for God. They shine their light of holy living on the Lord. Embrace His higher standard, and expect the same of your church and ministry leaders. Elect men and women of the cloth who behave biblically, whose character aligns with Christ’s, and who model faithfulness, not perfection. They are not conformed to this world but transformed by God’s truth.

The Bible is clear: “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:2-3).

Prayer: Heavenly Father, by faith I will follow You, so I can become a leader worth following, in Jesus’ name, amen.

Application: What area of my life does the Lord want me to grow my leadership?

Related Readings: 1 Kings 9:4; Proverbs 10:9; Nehemiah 7:2; Mark 12:14; 2 Corinthians 1:12

"What is Truth?" Pilate Said

Bible Reading: John 18
Focus Verse: "Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6

Pontius Pilate asked centuries ago, “What is truth?” as he was trying to make a judgement.  We look at our world today and try to make sense out of humanity that seems to be upside down from what we should be.  We try to find what the truth is in the news.  We want to know "What in the World is going on".  The truth is that there is a sin problem in humanity and man is full of pride.  In reality, Pilate was asking "What is truth?" when he was looking at the TRUTH himself, Jesus!

Not long before being arrested and brought to the governor, Jesus had said “I am the truth”, which was a rather incredible statement. How could a mere man be the truth? He couldn’t be, unless He was more than a man, which is actually what He claimed to be. The fact is, Jesus’ claim was validated when He rose from the dead (Romans 1:4).

Pilate and the Jewish leaders were making a judgement about the One who would be their Judge one day.  When we look for a worldly answer, we will fail to understand what God is doing, but if we look for a spiritual answer, we can see what God wants to show us.  Remember that Peter said,
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:16  He was looking for a spiritual truth.

When the world seems like it's gone crazy, look to the One who holds the world.

~Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Gird Me, Lord

Gird Me, Lord

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 45: 1-13

Focus Verses: Isaiah 45: 5-6  “I and the Lord, there is no other God.  I have girded you for battle, though you don’t even know me, so all the world from east to west will know there is no other God.  I am the Lord, and there is no other.”

We all put on different cloths for different events.  If you are playing football you put on something different from what you wear to church.  Back in Isaiah’s day they wore long robes.  So if they were going to do an activity where the robe got in the way they would tuck the robe into their belt.  This was called girding.  God promised king Cyrus that He would “gird” him with everything he needed to help God’s people.  Girding is something we do to prepare ourselves for the work God has for us.  And God has promised to help us through the process.  If God had promised to help a pagan king, how much more will God help us as His children.  So when you are faced with difficult circumstances know that God is there to cloth you with everything you need.  God will not send you out unprepared.  God is there to see that you succeed.  So tuck in your robe and get busy for God.


Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Fertile Soil?

Bible Reading: Matthew 13:10-23
Focus Verse: "But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means." 1 Corinthians 2:14

It may seem strange to us that Jesus would speak in parables.  He reveals that there were those who would understand them and those who would not.  Everyone has ears, but not everyone really listens.  Everyone has eyes, but we don’t really see.  It all depends on the condition of your heart.  Are you reading this devotion in order to check it off your list or are you truly seeking to be further yielded to Jesus?  The parable of the sower means that there are different ways to hear the word of God.  First, you could hear the words and have absolutely no understanding of the meaning.  Second, you hear it and understand and are glad, but you never apply it to your lives because you haven’t rooted yourself in Christ and are immature.  Third, you could hear the Word and allow God to work it in to your life where the message would grow and produce a crop.

“The Word of God is like little bitty seeds, scattered all around.  The Word of God is like little bitty seeds, scattered all around. Some in the road, some in the weeds, but everywhere you look you find little bitty seeds.” ~Dan Whittemore author of “Little Bitty Seeds”.  Did you ever sing this?  There is another verse to that song that says it better than I can.  I will share it with you.

“I want the Word to grow in my heart
like seed on fertile ground
I want the Word to grow in my heart
like seed on fertile ground
Watered by the Spirit and touched by the sun
And living like I should until the harvest come
Now I want the Word to grow in my heart
like seed on fertile ground”

Will you have an attitude like that?  Will you surrender your own selfish desires and allow God to create new soil out of your heart?  God is the one who hardens or softens hearts, so you need to give it to Him and allow Him to do this for you, then you will have fertile soil for the Word of God.  You will begin to then see fruit in your life.  Be obedient to what he is pressing you to do.
~Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Christ: the Ultimate Sacrifice

Bible Reading: Hebrews 9:23- 28 
Focus Verse: "Christ also suffered once for sins. The one who did what is right suffered for those who don’t do right. He suffered to bring you to God. His body was put to death. But the Holy Spirit brought him back to life. "1 Peter 3:18 (NIRV)

I was doing first aid in the infirmary.  Someone came with a cut on their forehead.  They got blood on their shirt.  After treating their cut, I offered to help them get the blood out of their shirt.  I offered this because it is difficult to get blood out of clothing.  There is a certain way to do it.  If you use hot water or wait too long, it will become a permanent stain.  You have to use cold water and soap.  Hydrogen peroxide works really well too.

In my story, I wanted to clean the blood OUT of something, but in Hebrews, Paul is talking about  cleaning and purifying something WITH blood.  In the scripture today, we read that without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. The law requires that nearly everything in the temple be cleansed with blood by the priest.  It is the only way for sin to be removed and for items in the tabernacle to be made pure.  God had a plan for sin to be defeated completely.  The plan was the blood of Christ.  Christ was pure and sinless.  Christ became the ultimate sacrifice.  He only needed to give Himself once and His blood was enough to take away the sins of many people.

Do you have the stain of sin in your life.  Does sin have dominion (or control) over you.  You can come to Jesus and allow Him to cleanse you today.  Ask Him to forgive your sins, repent, and follow Him.

Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Perfect Peace

Bible Reading: Isaiah 26:1-6

Focus Verse: Job 23:10-11  "“But he knows where I am going.  And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold. For I have stayed on God’s paths;  I have followed his ways and not turned aside."

God will keep you in perfect peace if your mind is focused on Him and your trust is in Him.  You can trust the Lord because his is the Rock that is secure.  If you are discouraged or troubled, He promises that He will bring peace to your soul.  We can know that because God promises it.

Recently I visited my aunt in the hospital.  She is suffering greatly and has been struggling with her health for some time.  I was thinking that maybe my visit would help her know that I cared and that I was praying for her.  While I was there, I heard her say that she is holding on to Jesus.  That was a powerful testimony.  She was in poor condition and she knew that Jesus was her comfort and her peace.

We all go through times of trial and trouble.  We all have moments where we are discouraged, hurt, or even feel trampled on.  You might have trouble with some friends or even enemies.  You might have difficulty dealing with some of your family members.  During those times, don’t give up.  Don’t be discouraged and defeated.  I urge you to reach out to God.  You can trust in Him.  He will bring you peace.  He is the rock that can’t be shaken.

~Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

No Need to Fear

Bible Reading: Psalm 27
Focus Verse: “Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”  Psalm 27:14 (NIV)

Chances are that you aren’t going to have wicked people coming to devour you or have a war break out against you like we read in the scriptures.  You will, however, face some trouble in your life.  You will need to find shelter in the Lord and allow him to hide you in His tent or set you high on a rock.

Years ago, I went for a walk on the beach with my five year old cousin, Shelly.  We were enjoying looking at shells and digging our toes into the sand.  Suddenly, a big black dog came over the dunes.  He came toward us barking and showing his teeth.  My little cousin was vulnerable because she was so small.  I quickly asked her to climb on my back.  I lifted her high out of danger.  The dog kept coming and barking, threatening our casual walk.  I prayed for the Lord’s protection as I began to walk past the barking, snarling dog.  As I came closer, he began to growl and show his teeth.  I kept walking, trying not to look at him directly.  The next thing I know, I had past him and he stayed behind.  That was a fearful moment.

Just like I did for my little cousin, the Lord can lift you up out of the danger.  If you are walking with the Lord, you do not need to fear.  He will bring you into His safe dwelling, hide you in the shelter of his tent and set you high upon a rock and you will learn the straight path that you should take. Verse 14 says, “Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”  There is no need to fear.

~Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

God Joined. Don’t Separate.

God Joined. Don’t Separate.
Bible Reading:  Matthew 19:1-12
Focus Verse: Hebrews 3:8  "Don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled, when they tested me in the wilderness."

Jesus had just finished teaching about how to handle a brother’s sin against you and how much we should forgive.  I don’t think it’s an accident that that is covered just before marriage.  Forgiveness is needed regularly in any marriage based on our nature to sin.  The Pharisees came to test him and asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?”  Jesus replied that from the beginning, God created them male and female to be united as one.  God joins them together and man should not separate.  There was a concession given by Moses for marital unfaithfulness, but only because of the hardness of their hearts.  He said it wasn’t that way in the beginning.  Jesus went so far as to call it adultery if someone divorces and remarries for any reason other than that. 

There is a beautiful trinity in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  At the end of each day of creation, God said it was good.  After He created Man and Woman, he said it was “Very good!”  Why this difference.  We are not like the animals.  Marriage is a reflection of the unity found in the trinity.  Jesus many times said that the “Father and I are one”.  Now he says that man and wife will become one.  We are to honor that commitment. 

After saying this, it stands to reason that you should be careful and prayerful as you choose the person you will marry.  I remember when I was in High School that I made a list of the qualities that I was looking for in a husband.  I then rated them in priority.  Sure, we can get swept up in emotional love, but the lasting marriage takes commitment.  Remember how I started this devotion?  It was about forgiveness.  It really works.  Be sure that when you marry, you both are committed for life!  Begin now by praying about the person that you will marry.  Pray for that person as they walk with Christ.

~Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Who is the Greatest?

Bible Reading:  Luke 22: 7-30
Focus Verse: Matthew 18:4 "So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven."

The disciples learned that as followers of Jesus Christ, they would be in Heaven's Kingdom some day.  They wanted to know where they would stand in that Kingdom.  Jesus had just been talking about the Kingdom, but he was also talking about suffering, His body being broken and His blood spilled out.  It was through the humble Christ that the Kingdom of God would come.  The disciples were taught that to be great, they must be humble and servants.  Jesus was even an example of this.

Those of us who are believers in Jesus Christ will desire to please Him and do His will.  Some will even become teachers and leaders in the church or in ministry.  Leadership will always bring conflict with our human nature of desiring to be great.  It can be more of a challenge to remain humble when you see many good results from your ministry.  We can remain humble when we realize that it is only the Lord that brings forth any fruit from our labors.  (Last week, we learned about the power of bearing fruit belongs to the Lord.)  Being active in your community in serving the needs of others can also help you stay humble.

Do you love being commended?  It can feel assuring and rewarding, but it shouldn't be our ultimate goal to be praised by men.  As the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”  2 Corinthians 10:17-18

Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

A Friend of Jesus

Scripture Reading: John 15: 1-17

Focus Verses: John 15: 14-16  “You are my friend if you do whatever I command you.  No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing, but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.  You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit.”

Jesus says that we are His friend if we do what He says.  Sounds a lot like the friendships we have with each other hear on earth.  If you have a close friend, you want to please them.  Not only does Jesus want you as His friend, but He wants you to know everything that God has told Him.  That’s pretty awesome to think about.  Jesus has told us everything that God told Him.  Now here is where our passage of scripture gets a little hard to understand.  We did not choose Jesus, but Jesus chose us.  That’s right, Jesus chose us to remain in His love and produce fruit.  As we are connected to Christ we have the power to produce this fruit.  It all comes back to our obedience to Him.  Let’s obey, so we can be friends of Jesus and be filled with His joy.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Love One Another

Bible Reading: 1 John 3: 11-24
Focus verse : 1 John 3:11 "This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. "

God is loving and caring. He has called us to love and care for others as well. The old man (Marcus Ochieng) and his family today have a reason to thank God. For many years the family has had a poor shelter, small in size to accommodate the family and has had a leaking roof. His attempts to get a better shelter had not worked due to their merger income. Together with the wife they live by pulling nets for fish despite their old age. The man is about 80 years today.
God placed in my heart the burden to pray for them and help them get a better structure. Thanks to God for provision for their new semi permanent shelter of three rooms and with enough space for the whole family. Work has also been made easy through the church community of Makira Baptist Church who have volunteered to offer the needed man power to help raise the structure. Congratulations to the church for partnering to see this area come true through physical support and any donation added.
As we celebrate the miracle for this family, many other destitute families with poor shelters are praying for their miracles as well. God has placed in my heart the burden to pray and help meet shelter needs for the less fortunate more so old age, widows and orphans. Your prayers and donation can help do a miracle to another family. The church community is ready to labor together in this endeavour.   After a few days, we today celebrate a house almost to full completion. Words can't tell this big joy to the family but the smile in Marcus face crowns it.

Eliazar Wambo
Bethesda Faith Ministries

What Is Most Important To You?

Scripture Reading: 1 John 2:12-17

Focus Verses:  1 John 2:16-17  “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world.  And the world is passing away, and the lust of it, but he who does the will of God abides forever."

Possibly the number one thing that people value in the world is money.  But think about this:  Money can buy you a bed but not sleep.  Money can buy you a clock but not time.  Money can buy you a book but not knowledge.  Money can buy you a position but not respect.  Money can buy you medicine but not health.  Money can buy you blood but not life, and money can buy you sex but not love.  Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 4:18 "We fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen.  For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”  Money can be used in God’s Kingdom for a lot of worthy causes, but money is also responsible for ruining countless lives.  Anything in our lives more important than God is wrong.  Children, a husband, a wife, a job, a friend, a pastor, a boat, a house, a piece of land, money, yourself, and the list goes on……  God wants to be number one in you life period.  People spend a lot of money on nice things on the earth, but one day it’s all going to burn.  What are you doing for God that will last forever?  I hope God is what is most important to you.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Trust Takes Time

Scripture Reading: Psalm 9

Focus Verses: Psalm 9: 9-10   “The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.  And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.”

Trust always takes time.  As you get to know a good friend better, you begin to trust them more.  The same it true with our relationship with God.  We learn more about God by reading the Bible, then as we see Him work in our lives to help us through troubles and trials we begin to trust Him more and more.  In our passage David learned about God’s promise to be our refuge in times of trouble.  A refuge is a safe place to be when life rages on.  This is not a physical place where we go, but the security of our relationship with God.  Because of the relationship, we trust Him.  As we look back over our lives we will see many times when He has carried us through uncertain times.  To deeply trust in God’s faithfulness takes time to build, but His promises are always something we can trust in.  The Lord will never forsake those who are seeking after Him.  Trust a little now and then later you will trust more deeply.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Come to Jesus

Bible reading : Mark 5: 35-43
Focus Verse: "While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?” Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” Mark 5:35-36

When sickness and suffering in the lives of those we love weigh heavy on our hearts we can feel helpless and hopeless. We need divine intervention and understand our need for Jesus more deeply. This is exactly the sort of person Jesus encounters in Mark 5.

At verse 35 we see the situation as humanly hopeless, with word reaching Jairus that his daughter had already died. Then the messengers say, “why bother the teacher anymore?” When all hope is lost, why continue to trouble Jesus? Jesus’ response to this question invites us deeper into the mystery of God’s love, nature, and power.  "Don't be afraid, just believe."

There is never a time, moment, or situation in which all hope is lost.  We must remember that we serve a God who is Lord of heaven and earth, in whose hand “is the life of every living thing.” (Job 12:10) We must believe that the God who defeated death on the cross is powerful enough to bring hope and healing to the darkest and most painful moments of life, even when all hope seems to be lost.

Do we seek Jesus in prayer only for the things that seem likely to be answered, or are you and I willing to learn from this story and continue to open ourselves up to God’s plan and power even when it is beyond what we can see or understand?

How can you persistently seek the Lord in prayer and intercession, even when all hope seems to be lost? Take whatever weighs heavy on your heart today to the Lord in prayer, and find comfort and peace for your soul. Do not be afraid. The Lord is with you and will never abandon you, and in light of the resurrection we know that a day is coming when all shall be made well. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Ask Anything in My Name

Bible Reading: John 14Focus verse: John 14:13-14 - "You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father.  Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!"

(Last week's devotion was on spiritual healing.  This week I want you to hear from a lady who was injured and she is paralyzed and in a wheelchair.)

Hi, this is Joni Eareckson Tada with a word about healing.  There was a season in my life when I begged God to heal me.  And one of the key verses I used in my prayers was John chapter 14, verses 13-14 where Jesus says, "I will do whatever you ask in my name so that the Son may bring glory to the Father." Well, that was quite a promise! Jesus will give us whatever we ask, as long as we ask in his name?!
Well, I kept doing just that—asking in His name, but nothing happened, so I dug deeper, confessing and repenting of whatever extra sin might stand in the way. But still, no healing. I wondered what I was doing wrong.  So I went back to John 14, and this time I read all around it. I discovered that the context is all about "giving the gospel." After all, this chapter was our Savior's last chance to teach his disciples about "the main thing." And the main thing (as we'd all agree) is his Gospel. Jesus was so passionate about his disciples giving the good news, that he inasmuch said, “Look, if there are mountains in your way, I’ll move them. If there’s an obstacle in the way, I’ll help you get rid of it. If it means the advancement of God's kingdom, I’ll do it." Jesus was adamant about this because this is what would give his Father the most glory.
I began to grasp the fact that my suffering was part of God's strategy to further his gospel. After all, it says in First Peter 2:21-22, "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps." Just as Christ suffered yet trusted the Father, I am to follow in His steps on the road marked with suffering and trust my heavenly Father,.
When we Christians trust the Lord in our hardships, it showcases to a skeptical, cynical and unbelieving world that God is worth trusting and the Bible is worth believing. The world can't argue when it sees people in pain rejoice in their God. Friend, no one goes to Christ’s heaven who doesn’t first share in Christ’s sufferings. And there’s a good reason for it. Heaven will be populated with people who opened their hearts to God because they saw the power and the reality of His Gospel demonstrated through you. And that’s worth more than being healed on your feet any day.

He has chosen not to heal me, but to hold me. The more intense the pain, the closer His embrace.
~Joni Eareckson Tada

By His Stripes We Are Healed

By His Stripes We Are Healed

Bible Reading: 1 Peter 2

Focus verse: Isaiah 53:5 "
But He was wounded for our transgressions, (our sin)
He was bruised for our iniquities; (our evil doings)
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed."

"“Stripes,” (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24) in the language of the King James Version of the Bible, and in some others, means “wounds,” as seen in more modern translations such as the New International Version. These stripes were administered by whipping the bare backs of prisoners whose hands and feet were bound, rendering them helpless. The phrase “by His stripes we are healed” refers to the punishment Jesus Christ suffered—floggings and beatings with fists that were followed by His agonizing death on a cross—to take upon Himself all of the sins of all people who believe Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior. “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

The whips used were made of braided leather, with pottery shards and sharp stones affixed to the ends, which tore open the flesh of the prisoner with each cruel swing of the whip. When we picture this terrible, inhumane form of physical punishment we recoil in horror. Yet the physical pain and agony were not all Jesus suffered. He also had to undergo the mental anguish brought on by the wrath of His Father, who punished Him for the sinfulness of mankind—sin carried out in spite of God’s repeated warnings, sin that Jesus willingly took upon Himself. He paid the total price for all of our transgressions.

Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the apostle Peter wrote, “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed.” In Isaiah 53, Jesus’ future life on earth was foretold in the clearest of terms, to include his eventual torture and death: “But He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds (stripes) we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24).

The contexts of Isaiah 53 and 1 Peter 2 make it clear that they are referring to spiritual healing, not physical. “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24). The verse is referring to sin and righteousness, not sickness and disease. Therefore, being “healed” in both these verses is speaking of being forgiven and saved, not being physically healed."

The above is taken from www.gotquestions.org

Spiritual healing from sins is a greater miracle than physical healing.  Yes, God can heal us physically and sometimes he wills it, but this verse is not about that.  Yes, we still should call the elders to come pray for us, but don't cheapen the healing of the soul by using a verse not meant for physical healing.  Always look to the context of the scripture when you determine what it means. 
~Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

See photo: Click here

Being Prepared

Being Prepared

Scripture Reading:  Matthew 24: 30-42

Focus Verses: Matthew 24: 39, 42  “And those alive in the days of Noah did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.”

God always keeps His word.  If God says something is going to happen, you better believe it will happen.  God told Noah there would be a flood to cover the earth.  Noah could have said to God, “but it has never rained on the earth.”  Instead Noah, by faith, began to build a boat.  Surprisingly enough, out of all the people on earth at that time, only eight people truly believed God would flood the earth.  Many people were swept away to their destruction because of their unbelief.

God has said that He is coming back to earth one day.  I think there are many people that don’t believe that event is really going to happen.  Millions of people on the earth today are not prepared for that event.  The result of that unbelief will be devastating.  Throughout God’s Word He has given us ample warning that He is coming back, and that we are to be prepared.  Let us be about the Lord’s work until He returns.  I am ready and watching for His return.  Are you?

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Tempted to go Back

Tempted to go Back
Bible Reading: John 21:1-14
Focus verse: John 21:3-6 – “I am going out to fish, “Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We will go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Early in the morning Jesus stood on the shore but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends haven’t you any fish?” “No, they answered.”

When life becomes unbearable we often get tempted to go back to our initial way of life. We try to justify why we cannot continue holding strong into the faith. Some begin to think that God did not clearly speak to them about serving Him or maybe they did not make a right choice to follow God. They think it would have been better off for them in their previous way of life. These people may end up winning others to go back with them to their past way of life. Simon Peter finds things unbearable for him after Jesus was crucified and he feels he is not safe to continue with life as a disciple and a fisher of men. He shares his new decision to go back with other disciples who also jointly agree to go back with him. He forgets that Jesus had taken them away from fishers of fish to fishers of men.

The result of this decision is very disappointing! They did not catch any fish despite an all night struggle to get some. Isn’t this what others have faced when they are tempted to go back to their initial way of living? Actually others have ended worse than before and have lived not to see the joy they had hoped for in their going back. They try fixing it again and again but end up into wastage of strength and resources. As it happened to Peter and the friends; a decision to go back will never result into any fruit. It is a decision for grief, disappointment, shame, regrets and even death. Regardless of the circumstances we must not think of going back. But Jesus is faithful and is out looking for a soul which is tempted to go back into former life so that he may bring him back. He has the power to restore and bring back those which have abandoned service for God’s Kingdom. All our life victories have been because He has been our side and unless we stay in him we cannot get any catch. John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the brunches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

Pastor Eliazar Wambo
Makira Baptist Church – Mfangano Kenya

Forgiveness - The Delete Key

Forgiveness - The delete key
Bible reading: Matthew 6:9-13
Focus verse: Matthew 6:12 – Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

I must admit that my typing skills aren’t all that good so I frequently use the delete key to help me write and pass accurate information to other people. It’s possible that we will never be very accurate every time we write or pass information.  I try to imagine if this key was missing in a computer or phone; communication would be difficult. Accumulation of mistakes would make your work, information or paper to present to be senseless, lacking in meaning hence low or no grading. People would present information they didn’t intend to. So delete key is the key that helps your writing be on course. It is a key you can’t avoid no matter how accurate you try to be.

Our lives have so many keys but forgiveness represents the delete key. It is the button we can’t avoid clicking daily if we want to stay on course with our walk with God and be presentable to God and to the people around us as imitators of Christ. Imagine if all the unedited work full of mistakes is what you could present for awarding, what grades could we get? That’s what happens when we don’t click the delete key in our lives. We should click it each time we make mistakes to others or whenever others do mistakes to us. Unfortunately, for some people this key is either dead, rarely used or just ignored in their lives. Jesus knew the importance of this key in our lives and instructs us to click it in our daily prayers. He said each day we need to ask for forgiveness as we also have forgiven others who trespass against us. He further states that if you don’t forgive then you too will not be forgiven, Matthew 6:14-15. Paul further states that, “You yourself are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” 

Pastor Eliazar Wambo
Makira Baptists Church – Mfangano Kenya

Ten Time Better in Ten Days

Bible reading: Daniel 1:3-20
Focus verse: Daniel 1:18-20 “At the end of time set by the king to bring them in, the chief officials presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked to them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hannania, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.”

Testing is one of the ways in which learning is evaluated. Each day we are presented with opportunities to learn and grow in new ideas and we have the chance to better our understanding of the word of God. Daniel together with his three other friends are taken into a ten day learning experience and to be presented for testing after ten days. They refuse to defile their bodies with food and drinks that were not holy and pure before God but accept to take only what will please God. At the end of ten days the testing results show that they are ten times better than the other people.

Ten times better in ten days! Isn’t that encouraging. Not nine times, or eight times, or five times better in ten days. This means each day was an opportunity for them to grow and they did not miss any single opportunity. Imagine if believers would grow in their faith and understanding and service of God each day. The result could be a well varied difference between the world and believers. For some of us, it would be thousands of times better than the world given the number of days we have lived as God’s own children. But is that the truth or we are mixed into the world so that barely any difference is seen regardless of the number of days we have lived as God’s children. Have we grown in proportion to our life spent with God? 2 Timothy 2:15 – Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word truth.  Avoid godless character, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.  

Pastor Eliazar Wambo
Makira Baptist Church – Mfangano Kenya

God Understands Our Limitations

Bible reading: Genesis 22: 2-13 (NIV)
Focus verse: Genesis 22: 7-8 – Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.

Limitations are part of our daily encounters with a degree ranging from one person to another, or a family to the other or a nation to the other. Though some people may say that they have excess for their needs, but none is perfect without a limitation – we are all lacking in something whether physical, physiological or emotional. Isaac as a young boy understood that something was missing; they did not have a lamb for sacrifice. He could count what they have but that is not all they needed, something was still missing. He turns to his father and shares his worries and concerns, and the father lovingly responds that God will provide. Isaac did not stop on the way nor did he complain to the father but believed the words of his father and kept moving even to the sacrifice alter. 

Many people have doubted God’s help when over carried with limitations. Some have stopped from trusting and as a result have left the faith. God understands that we do not have it all but still wants us to trust and walk with Him. He already has solutions to all that troubles us but wants us to trust Him more daily as we abide in him no matter what. Apostle Paul states, Philippians 4:19 “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Don’t sit back or forsake walking in truth of the light of God because you do not have it all. Keep going, God has it all for you.

Pastor Eliazar Wambo
Makira Baptist – Mfangano Kenya

Wasted Opportunity

Bible reading: Exodus 8:1-15 (NIV)

Focus verse: Exodus 8:8-10 – Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Pray to the Lord to take the frogs away from me and my people, and I will let your people go to offer sacrifice to the Lord.” Moses said to Pharaoh, “I leave to you the honor of setting the time for me to pray for you and your officials and your people that you and your houses may be rid of the frogs, except for those that remain in the Nile.” “Tomorrow” Pharaoh said. Moses replied, “It will be as you say so that you may know there is no one like the Lord our God.

Decisions have consequences that not only affect our lives but also the lives of our loved ones, communities, friends, work and even the nation at large. At one point in life we all stand a chance to help rescue other people’s lives or to help worsen their lives more so when are entrusted with a leadership role like Pharaoh was. Many people have made decisions that have lived to cause regrets in the generations to come. Pharaoh realizes that because of his tough headedness all the nation is invaded by frogs that spread all over the land. He goes to Moses to present the cry of his nation to have all frogs taken out from them. When given opportunity to decide when, he boldly says “Tomorrow.” Why would he postpone such kind of decision to the following day? Why would he allow the innocent lives of his people including his own family, and the children to have another troubled day with frogs?

That is exactly how we behave when we keep postponing making important decisions for our lives in time. We allow Satan to trouble us for another day yet we live in pain and worries away from God. We cause our innocent families to suffer when we don’t make right choices for their lives. Just as Moses told Pharaoh to decide when, so the Lord is waiting patiently for when we shall allow Him to come to our rescue. God will never force himself to us.  Paul in his letter to the church in Rome (Romans 10:8-9) mentions that the word of salvation is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart. Any moment you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you are saved. Will you post pone your worries, troubles, anxieties to another day or have yourself at feet of Jesus and cast all your burdens upon him?

Pastor Eliazar Wambo
Makira Baptist – Mfangano Kenya

The Conclusion

Bible Reading: 2 Timothy 4

Focus Verses: 2 Timothy 4:7-8  “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

The Rapture is an event that could take place at any moment.  One day millions of people will disappear from the face of the earth in an instant.  Only the people who have put their faith and trust in Jesus will be taken.  Then there will be a period of seven years of suffering on the earth called the tribulation.  During this time those who have gone to heaven will be rewarded at the judgment seat of Christ.  Not to be judged for our sin, because that was paid for a the cross.  But we will be rewarded for our faithfulness to Christ.  Those found faithful with receive “the crown of righteousness” from the only person who could give such a reward, Jesus.  The Christian life is not easy.  Paul says “I have fought a good fight.”  Sometimes the Christian life is a fight.  Those who finish this race well will be blessed.  So let us remain faithful to the end, so that we can have a great conclusion.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Adversity and Humility

By Greg Laurie

"So it shall be, when the Lord your God brings you into the land of which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you large and beautiful cities which you did not build, houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant--when you have eaten and are full--then beware, lest you forget the Lord. . . ."

—Deuteronomy 6:10-12

In his book, The Problem of Pain, C. S. Lewis wrote, "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains. It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world." We talk about the problem of pain, but let's talk about the problem of prosperity. Prosperity brings responsibility, because we are not owners; we are stewards. Everything God gives to us is a gift, and we will be held responsible for what we do with the resources that are at our disposal. Therefore, we want to make sure that we remain dependent on God.

When life gets really hard and adversity hits, we pray—and so we should. But sometimes when life is going reasonably well, we sort of forget about prayer. In Acts 12, we read that when James was beheaded and Peter was put in prison, the church prayed—and they prayed with desperation, because they knew that if God didn't come through, there was no other hope.The psalmist wrote, "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word" (Psalm 119:67). God gave this warning to Israel before they entered the Promised Land and began enjoying all its blessings: "When you have eaten and are full—then beware, lest you forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage" (Deuteronomy 6:11–12).

Adversity levels us and keeps us humble, while prosperity tends to make us proud and self-sufficient. We don't think we need God when we're in good health or have a [pocket full of money]. But when an economy goes south or the doctor has bad news, we turn to God, because we are reminded of what really matters. 

Whether in prosperity or adversity, humility honors God.  Philippians 2:3 tells us, "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself."

The Trumpet Will Sound

Scripture Reading: Matthew 24: 30-39

Focus Verse: Matthew 24: 31 “He will send His angles with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

Many times in the Bible it is difficult to determine the difference between the rapture of the church and the second coming of Christ.  We believe that the rapture of the church will happen before the tribulation and the second coming of Christ will happen after the great tribulation.  Last week we talked about how the labor pains show us that we are living in the end times.  Events will soon be happening on the earth like we have never seen before.  Yet many people go about living their lives as though nothing is approaching.  It’s like a fishing boat out on the lake.  There is a severe storm approaching and the fishermen do nothing to prepare for the storm and they are lost.  We see people living today much like those who lived during the time of Noah.  No preparation was made and they were all swept away in the flood and are lost.  The trumpet will sound one day and only those who have put their trust in Jesus and made their preparation for eternity will be taken to heaven.  Those who will be left behind have a future of disaster waiting for them.  I hope you are prepared for the future and eternity by placing your hope and trust in the only One who can save you, Jesus.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Birth Pains

Scripture Reading: Luke 21: 8-36

Focus Verses: Luke 21: 25-27  “And there will be strange signs in the sun, moon, and stars.  And here on earth the nations will be in turmoil perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides.  People will be terrified at what they see coming upon the earth, for the powers in the heavens will be shaken.. Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on a cloud with power and great glory.”

Most of us are familiar with what takes place during a pregnancy leading up to the birth of a child.  As the time of the birth draws closer, the mother begins to experience some pains.  Those pains get closer together as time progresses.  The Bible compares the second coming of Christ to the labor pains of a mother.  We are seeing many signs today that Jesus said would be present in the end times.  Jesus says in Matthew 24:7 “there will be earthquakes in many parts of the world.”  We are seeing this today as there are many earthquakes taking place around the world.  Natural disasters are happening more often than ever before.  Jesus also said there will be great persecution in the end times.  We are seeing this taking place particularly in the middle east where Christians are dying for their faith.  All of these signs are telling us that the end in drawing near.  This is not something we need to worry about because as Christians we know that Jesus will take us safely to heaven.  So as you see these birth pains let us be busy about the work of the Lord, as His return draws near.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Temptation Weapons

Bible Reading James 1:13-15

“Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is fully grown, brings forth death.”

In this passage, God reminds us of one thing we should pay very close attention to so we don’t get sucked into sin: desire. (Desire is why we do what’s wrong. Satan just comes along and seduces us when our desire is ripe.) As I read this passage, I thought about the progression that occurs when we get sucked into sin because of intense desire. And, I made a list of this progression.

When we give into temptation here’s what can happen: 

1) We are overtaken by strong emotion that comes from desire.

2) We are confused.

3) We downplay the consequence of our sin.

4) We justify our behavior.

5) We may blame others for our choice.

6) We may even say that our sin is God's will and that it's not sin at all. (For example, We are happier, and doesn't God want us to be happy?)

Then, if we become fully rebellious, we may even turn against God. 

But there is good news! God gives us a way out. 

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Having some good friends or a community to hold you accountable also helps.

If you start thinking about a time when you fell into sin and the enemy starts beating you up, telling you that you are worthless, tell him to get lost because there isn’t any condemnation for you in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). Then, bring out your weapons in 1 John 1:9:

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Prayer: Lord, thank you that I can resist temptation. Help me not to be deceived by ungodly desires. Amen.

Application: Reflect on situations in your own life or in the lives of others and how today’s devotional applies as an exercise to help you resist temptation. 

By Shana Schuttle

A Happy Reunion

Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Focus Verses: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18  “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.  And the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  And thus we shall always be with the Lord.  Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

What a great reunion day that will be, when we will always be together with the Lord.  We have all lost a loved one that has died a physical death, but if they have put their faith and trust in Christ, and we have done the same, we will see them one day.  The Thessalonian believers were wondering about family members and friends that have died.  Paul was assuring them that they would see them again one day.  When Jesus returns one day in the clouds, those that have placed their faith and hope in Him will return with Him.  We will then receive new bodies.  A body that will never get sick.  A body that will never get old.  A body that will live forever with Jesus.  This is great news. I am looking forward to that day.  All the troubles of this world will just be a faded memory on that happy reunion day.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Lion on the Loose

Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 5:1-11

Focus Verses: 1 Peter 5:8-9  “Stay alert!  Watch out for your great enemy, the devil.  He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.  Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith.  Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.”

On this past trip to Kenya, I heard this story that happened in Nairobi last year.  Nairobi National Park is next to the city of Nairobi.  There has been much construction of new buildings and new roads near the game park.  As the construction workers were leaving for the day, they did not secure the fence of the game park.  The next morning a man was walking to work on the road, and much to his surprise he was greeted by lions.  He got attacked and nearly lost his life.  Isn’t that how our lives often are?  We are walking down the road of life, and unexpectedly Satan jumps out and attacks us.  He never announces his intentions.  He just stalks us just as the lions do before they pounce on their prey.  The devil walks about like a roaring lion, therefore we need to be attentive to his tactics.  He is looking for a Christian that is separated from the flock.  So be careful not to waver in your faith.  He’s looking to destroy you and your testimony.  But you are not alone; Jesus will help you.  Stay with the flock and be vigilant and sober because Satan is a lion on the loose.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

God’s Cell Phone

Bible Reading: Matthew 6:5-18Focus Verse: John 17:20-21(Jesus prayed) "I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.   I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me."

     Do you ever talk to God? Do you really know what prayer is? Do you know there are some things that you must know in order for God to answer His cell phone?
God really doesn’t have a cell phone, but the Bible tells us a lot about prayer.

     First of all, prayer has two parts. One is that we talk to God either by word of mouth or by our thoughts. The second is that God talks to us through reading the Bible.

    Who can pray? The answer is that everyone can pray. However there are limitations for some people. If some praying people are not children of God, Luke 18:13 says that the only prayer that God hears from them is “God be merciful to me a sinner”.  If you are a child of God as described in John 1:12 which says, “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name” you have the right to come to God at any time and ask for anything.

     God answers our prayers in three ways. The first is Yes. The second is No. The third is wait a while. God knows what is best for us.

     Recently, I came across a very special verse in John 17:9 which says that Jesus prays for us. If Jesus thinks prayer is important, shouldn’t we? 

~Rev. Bob Johnson, Jr

The Early Church

The Early Church
Bible Reading: Acts 11
Focus Verse: Acts 11: 26 “The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”

What is your favorite book in the Bible? Your favorite probably changes as you do your Bible study. Right now, my favorite is the book of Acts. What an exciting book. There are some thrilling accounts and also some very sad happenings. Dr. Luke, one of Jesus’ disciples, wrote the book of Luke and the book of Acts. Of course he knew Jesus well. It is said that the book of Luke is the story of Jesus as lived by Him. The book of Acts is the story of Jesus as lived by others. Acts picks up where his Gospel left off. Before Jesus left the earth and went to heaven, He told His followers in Acts 1:8, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 

 
Once the power of the Holy Spirit was with Jesus’ followers, there was the account of Peter’s powerful sermon which brought 3,000 conversions and launched the church (Acts:2). As Peter traveled to different areas telling the good news of Jesus, the new followers of Christ were first called Christians in Antioch.” Acts 11:26. The witness of Peter to mainly Jews and later Paul who witnessed to Gentiles resulted in harsh persecution. Did it mean that they quit? No!
How much does the plan of salvation mean to you? Acts 16:31 is Paul’s message that you can share. Are you a missionary to those around you? Acts is the only unfinished book in the Bible. Notice how abruptly it closes in chapter 28. In Acts 17:6, Luke describes the heroes of Acts as “these who have turned the world upside down.” If the world ever needed to be turned upside down, it’s now. Does it seem like we are living in the 29th chapter of Acts? 

~Debbie Johnson

To the Glory of God... In the End

Bible Reading: Isaiah 18

Focus Verse: "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." Romans 8:28

God’s Glory remains evident after enduring a difficult period of your life.  It reminds me of the rainbow after the severe storm, or the first flowers of spring after a long, cold winter.  We read in the passage today about the prophesy of a land that was troubling God’s people.  There would be suffering, but in the end, God’s Glory would be seen.

It could be that you are going through a very difficult time in your life.  When you are in the midst of that trouble, it is difficult to imagine that there is the Glory of God waiting to shine at the end of the tunnel.  In the scriptures today, it says that the enemy was feared and aggressive.  Maybe that is how you feel about the troubles bothering you today.  I remember feeling so low that I was sure that the next day would never come.  We can’t always trust the way that we feel.  We need to trust in God.

Jesus said that in this life, you will have troubles, but to be encouraged because He has overcome the world.  This is a sure thing.  Jesus will walk with you through your troubles.  He wants you to turn to Him with your troubles.  Pray for the things that are troubling you today.  Trust in God’s promises.  God will take care of His people and be a shelter to them.  In the end, there will be great Glory!

Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Always Draw Near to God

Scripture Reading: James 4:1-10

Focus Verses: James 4:7-8 “So humble yourselves before God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Come close to God, and God will come close to you.  Wash your hands, you sinners, purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.”

God knows how Satan operates better than we do.  That’s why God has commanded that we submit to Him and draw near to Him.  Jesus told us to pray, “give us this day our daily bread.”  John 6:48 tells us that Jesus is the Bread of Life.  We need Him every day.  We can only allow God to purify us when we spend time with Him.  If we do then Romans 6:12 will be easier for us. “Do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.”  Sin should have no control over us.  The closer we are to God the less power Satan can have over us as God’s children.  We are faced with temptation every day of our lives.  Drawing near to God will give us the power to resist this temptation.  Keep drawing near.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Test The Spirits To Know Truth

Scripture Reading: 1 John 4:1-6

Focus Verses: 1 John 4:1-3  “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God… By this you know the Spirit of God.  Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God.”

Do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit.  There are many spirits in the world today that are against Christ.  These spirits try to hinder the work of the church in every way possible.  These spirits attack in many different ways, but one way is to try and get you to question the authority of God’s Word.  In the Garden of Eden, Satan got Eve to question the words of God, and therefore she sinned.  Satan said, “did God really say you shouldn’t eat of that tree.” 

Satan is the Father of Lies, but he will also mix truth with his lies to trick you.  Today these evil spirits like to use the word “tolerance”.  Satan wants us to tolerate what God calls sin.  So how do we distinguish what is truth from heaven, and what are lies from hell?  It’s all in the Word of God.  Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  So look to Him for truth.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Sufficient Grace

Sufficient Grace

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Focus Verses: 2 Corinthians 12:8-9  Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.  And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

Have you ever experienced what Paul is dealing with here?  I sure have.  I think all of us at some time in our lives have asked God for something that we have not received.  So how do we move to that point, as Paul did, and say “let me look forward to God’s grace being more than sufficient in my life.”  Paul had a problem.  Some people think it was poor eyesight, epilepsy, or some other chronic illness.  Though we don't know his problem, we do know that he asked God three times to heal him.  Each time God said that His grace would be enough for Paul.  This taught Paul and teaches us today, that God’s grace is always more powerful than any circumstance that we are going through.  If we never encounter problems then we never learn lessons and grow spiritually.  So let us remember God’s words in the midst of our problems.  “My grace is sufficient for you."

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

God's Grace

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2:1-10

Focus Verse: Ephesians 2:8: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, least anyone should boast.”

The United States Constitution protects its citizens from being tried in a court of law for the same crime twice.  But God does something for us that is even better than that.  Over two thousand years ago God sent His only Son Jesus to die for us so we would not be guilty of any wrongdoing.  That is Grace.  Jesus paid the price of hell for you and me.  But it’s up to us to choose if we will accept the payment Jesus made for us.  Sadly there are some rich people, poor people, presidents, teachers, athletes, business owners, and pastors that have never made the decision to trust Jesus.  Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  That my friend is Grace.  The greatest possible gift God could give us is the forgiveness of our sins.  GRACE is simply, God’s Riches At Christ Expense.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

God’s Mercy and His Grace

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 4:14-16

Focus Verses: Hebrews 4:15-16  “This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.  So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God.  There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”

Sometimes we think that God is so different from us and He can’t identify with us.  But we must remember that He lived a human life here on earth.  He was tempted in all the same ways we are tempted.  He suffered and had trials just as we do, but through it all He was victorious.  He lived a sinless life.  So when He comes to your aid He knows what you need, because He has already gone through it.  He knows loneliness, frustration, betrayal, misunderstanding.  Because Jesus experienced all these things that we go through, He can now show us mercy and grace.  Mercy is God not giving us what we deserve.  Grace is God giving us what we don’t deserve.  It’s because of His mercy and grace that we can come boldly to Him and ask for His help in time of need.  Let us thank The Lord that He can identify with our weakness, and give us help.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries