Goals for a New Year

Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4: 9-12

Focus Verse: 1 Peter 3:4  “You should clothe yourselves with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.”

As we look forward to January 1, 2019 we think about the year ahead.  I have found myself looking at the calendar for 2019 and seeing the things that I want to do this coming year.  We make for ourselves dreams and goals for the year ahead.  Maybe you want to get out of debt in 2019.  Maybe you want to see your child graduate form four, or attend a university in 2019.  Maybe you want to live a more healthy lifestyle.  There are many different goals we could set for ourselves.  But many times people set ambitious goals that they are not able to accomplish.  When March gets here they can’t even remember what their goals were.

The Bible tells us to be ambitious and work hard with our hands, but at the same time it says to live a peaceful and quiet life.  Many times we are working hard because we are discontent, and unhappy.  We look for the next new thing, the next new job, the next marriage.  We think this will satisfy us, only to leave us still searching.  It is a cycle that never ends.  This year you could make it your goal to live a content, and quiet life.  Maybe you could take time this year to live a life of peace and contentment that often comes from living a simple quiet life with God.  Living a simple life doesn’t mean that you don’t accomplish much for God.  I’m reminded of the life of Evangelist Billy Graham.  He lived a rather simple life, but he accomplished so much for God.  I remember teaching my children that a house rule is to be happy with what you have. That is a simple way to think of contentment, but a good way to teach children when they are young and can help us learn contentment in whatever God chooses to provide. So this coming year let us be ambitious towards the things that matter most to God and content and grateful with how He provides for us.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Three Important Dates

Scripture Reading:  Matthew 1:18-23

Focus Verse:  Luke 2:11  “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

There are three important dates in the life of every believer that is going to heaven.  The first important date is Christmas.  We are not sure if the date Christ was born was on December 25th, but we are sure that there was a day when he left heaven to come to this earth, and was born of a virgin.  If there were no reason for Christmas, we would not have the opportunity for heaven.  The second important date is Easter.  This is the date that Christians celebrate the death and resurrection of Christ.  He paid for the penalty of sin that we could not pay for ourselves.  If there were no Easter, we would not have the opportunity for heaven.  This life and death of Christ is a sacrificial gift that God in is offering to every person on earth.  The third important date is the day you were born again.  This is the date that you received God’s free gift of Christ into your life.  Without this third important date in your life, you will not be going to heaven.  If you have never invited Christ into your life and accepted this free gift of salvation, what better time to do it than Christmas time.  These three dates are of upmost importance in your life.  If you leave out any one of the three, there is no salvation and no eternity in heaven.

*Extra Bible Reading:  John 3:3,  John 11:25-26, Isaiah 9:6, Luke 2:12

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Peace on Earth

Scripture Reading:  Luke 2:8-20

Focus Verse:  Luke 2:14  “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.”

Because of God's great love for us, He has made it possible for us to have peace.  We see in the scripture, the angels were proclaiming it over mankind.  Peace on earth starts with peace in our hearts.  When there is peace inwardly then there can be peace outwardly.  Romans 5:1-2 says, “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.”  It is God’s grace that allows us to experience this peace, and it’s through Jesus that God offers this peace to us. 

Philippians 4:7 says, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  Jesus came to this earth that we might experience the peace of God.  Do you have this peace in your heart this Christmas season?  If you are a believer in Christ does this mean you will experience 100%  peace in your life?  No, because truth divides, and not everyone believes in truth.  Jesus said, “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.  There will be division on this earth as long as there are those who don’t believe in Christ.

So let us stand for humility, grace, and truth this Christmas season, and trust God for others around us to stand for the same so that they may experience this same Peace On Earth.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Desire God’s Best

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 3:13-26

Focus Verses:  Proverbs 3:13-18  “Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding, for her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain than fine gold.  She is more precious than rubies, and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.”

What do people chase after most in this world?  Money, power, fame, comfort, success?  Some people desire a home, a family, a good job to be able to meet their obligations.  These are all human desires.  Jesus did not die on the cross to give us possessions or popularity, or a comfortable life.  Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10.  The things of this world cannot give you an abundant life.  The things of this world eventually will bring you disappointment.  Your investment of money can fail to give you a return.  Your friend that was once loyal to you can turn against you.  The job that you enjoyed so much has not given you a promotion like you anticipated.

There is only one desire that will never fail you.  That is to know God intimately through His Word and prayer.  Your investment in time with God will always give you a return more than you thought.  God will never turn against you.  He will always be a trusted friend.  God has a promotion for you one day when you reach heaven that will be unlike anything you have ever seen.  So don’t desire the cheap imitation that the world offers.  Instead desire what God offers.  The rewards will last forever.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

In a Pit?

Bible Reading: Genesis 50Focus Verse: Genesis 50:20 "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today."

This was intended harm that brought life instead: Joseph's brothers put him in a well and then sold him into slavery.   God meant it for good so that Joseph could save his family during the famine. 

Do you ever feel like you are in a pit?  Some pits are just part of life, some pits we fall into for lack of awareness, some pits are from decisions others make, and other pits are from our own decisions.

There's a story: One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.

As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

Understand this :
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The people intended it for burial, but God used it for GOOD.  We can get out of the deepest wells just by trusting God to show us the way out.  Shake it off and take a step up.

~Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
 

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

Also read Acts 2:40-47

God Administers the Pay Back

Scripture Reading: Romans 12

Focus Verses: Hebrews 10:30-31  “For we know Him who said, It is mine to avenge, I will repay, and again, The Lord will judge His people.  It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

Do you dream of revenge on someone?  Have you ever had someone who owed you a debt that would not repay?  Maybe you have been treated unfairly.  Or maybe you have been accused of something you did not do.  There are a lot of unjust things that happen to us in our lives.  In the scriptures, God is asking us to let go of our heart of revenge and let Him handle making things right.   Our revenge can make things worse, but trusting God’s repayment of a situation is always perfect even if you can't see it. 

Our life gets more messy and complicated when we take on the responsibility of making sure the other person gets what we think they deserve.  How can we know what others deserve for their injustices?  Our role is not to BE God, but to SERVE God.  When God makes a person pay for their injustices, it is done perfectly.  Something we cannot do.  God may have different plans for paying back injustices.  He may choose to show mercy and forgive their sin with minimal consequences.  God may choose to bring them to the end of themselves through trials and tribulations.  Or it may mean an eternity separated from God because of their deeds done on earth and rejection of Christ.  Our job is to forgive the other person, no matter how hard it may be.  God’s job is to give the proper judgment and consequences. 

We are to give the situation over to God to do what is best.  It could be that your forgiveness may be the very thing God uses to bring that person to Christ.  Regardless, you do the right thing, and trust God to do the right thing.  Romans 12:19 says, “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written, It is mine to avenge, I will repay, says the Lord.”  Who do you feel has wronged you that you feel the need to get even with?  How can Christ give you the strength to forgive them in love in spite of what they have done?

Additional Reading:  Deuteronomy 32:35,  Leviticus 19:18,  Proverbs 20:22,  Proverbs 24:29,  Romans 12:17

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Self Righteousness

Scripture Reading: Luke 18:9-14
Focus Verse: Luke 18:9  “To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told a parable.”

Self righteousness is ugly.  God doesn’t like it, and others don’t like it.  The interesting thing is that the people who display self righteousness don’t realize that they are doing this.  Have you ever noticed that when someone smells bad they don’t notice, but everyone around them notices.  This is how self righteousness is.  It’s kind of sad, but if we are honest, we must admit that sometimes we have been the one that smells bad.  We also have all been the self righteous one at some time.  We have been the ones that made unfair judgments of others.  We keep track who’s better, us or them.  It could become a completion of who is the better Christian?  Or who can use the right phrase of words in church so people will think we are more spiritual.  I know that I have been guilty of that.  It’s really sad when those that are self righteous are the ones that have influence, such as the Pharisees in our scripture reading.

Self righteousness is not acceptable to God, and we should humbly examine it's presence in our own lives.  Self righteousness is driven by pride.  And we know what God thinks of pride.  People with this problem when they pray it is a show rather than speaking humbly with God.  I wonder if the Pharisees ever prayed when they were alone, when only God could hear?    It is important for God to root out pride in our lives on a regular basis.  We can keep pride in check by following Christ and obeying Him.  Humble people are quick to confess their sins, and yes pride and self righteousness is a sin.  Let's be quick to confess.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Doubting God

Doubting God

Scripture Reading: Genesis 3:1-19

Focus Verse: Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made.  He said to the woman, “Did God really say, you must not eat from any tree in the garden?”

Satan’s main purpose is to get you to worship him, but if he is unable to do that, then he will try and get you to doubt God.  He knows that your faith in God will be of little good if it is filled with doubt.  As followers of Christ we all go through periods of doubt, but this should not be an on going pattern in your life.  Thomas had some doubts for a short time about the resurrected Christ.  Even John the Baptist had a moment of doubt (Matthew 11).  Don’t underestimate the power Satan can have in getting you to doubt God.  If Satan has planted seeds of doubt in your life, that needs to be removed as soon as possible.  If weeds are left unattended in your garden they will choke out any fruit that tries to grow.  If doubt is left unattended in your life you will not be able to bear fruit for Christ.

For some people it was easier to trust God when they first believed, but now they have gotten so familiar with the Christian life they have gotten relaxed and Satan has slipped doubt into their lives unnoticed.  Doubt has begun to replace God’s promises.  Did God really say that Jesus is the only way to heaven John 14:6?  Did God really say if you reject Jesus you will go to hell Revelation 20:15?  Did God really say I am to love my wife even when I don’t feel like it?  Did God really say I am to forgive my friend for the wrong he did?  Did God really say I am to trust Him even when I don’t understand what He’s doing?  The answer to all these questions, no doubt, is YES, God did say that.

Satan will many times try to tell you that God is holding back something that is good for you.  Just like he deceived Adam and Eve in the garden.  There are no gray areas in God’s Word.  If you are not sure if something is good or evil, confirm it in God’s Word.  God can be trusted.  He does not mix His words.  We doubt Satan, and we trust God.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Jesus: He Is Enough

Jesus: He is Enough

 

Bible Reading: 2 Peter 1:2-3, NIV Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Colossians 2:9, NLT For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.
2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Matthew 11:28, NLT Then Jesus said, Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
Psalm 16:5, GNT You, LORD, are all I have, and you give me all I need;
Hebrews 4:16, KJV Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
John 15:5, NLT “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

---

Do you ever get the feeling that there is no such thing as having enough in our world?...

It would be wonderful if people saw the Bible and the Gospel in all its rich clarity and realized that Christ alone is sufficient for salvation and for every spiritual need of the human soul.

But unfortunately...the world has infiltrated the Church and has created a mindset and attitude that is an affront to God: People are bringing additives to the redemptive work of Christ on the cross.
Isn’t it true that many people want to add on to their faith in Jesus Christ? Jesus alone doesn’t seem to be enough for the world today—even for the Christian community! Whether it is incorporating good works for salvation or non-Christian practices from other religions into their faith, people frequently function as if Jesus is not enough in their lives. They may claim that He is their Savior, but their acts and attitudes toward Him reveal the truth—that they believe they must “add” something to His work on the cross.
But the Bible is very clear that Jesus was and is the “plan of enough” from God. First Corinthians 3:11 says, “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” And Jesus Himself declared in John 6:51, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” There is no question about it—Jesus is enough!
I want to encourage you to live daily in light of His “sufficiency.” When you do, you will be surprised at how fulfilled and content you will be in your everyday life. And if you start to feel the urge to apply additives to your faith, just be reminded of these three things:
Jesus is Savior enough.
Jesus is Sufficient enough.
Jesus is Security enough.
He is enough!

Written by Dr. David Jeremiah is the founder of Turning Point for God, and serves as Senior Pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon, California.

Your Choice

Scripture Reading:  Matthew 6:19-24
Focus Verse: Matthew 6:24  “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.”

Joshua’s message to the Israelites was that they had to choose who they would serve.  There is a worldly pull toward things of this world and a spiritual pull toward the Lord God.  Joshua said, “as for me and my house, we will sere the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)  You must choose the master of your life.  Many people serve themselves and are their own master.  When you are serving yourself, you are not serving the Lord.  Also, when you serve the Lord, you are not serving yourself.  God, your Creator, wants to have the number one spot in your life.  God gave you the freedom to choose who will be the master.  Although the world will tell you otherwise, if you choose anything other than God, your life will become a mess.  Satan decided that he wanted to be his own master and that he would be greater than God.  We know that can't be true and he will end up in Hell forever.  We can not deceive ourselves to think that we can be a better master than our Creator God.  God will always do a better job at running your life than you will.  So give Him full control of your life today and walk in obedience to Him.   Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Prayer Changes

Bible Reading: Ephesians 6
Focus verse: "with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints" Ephesians 6:18

Do you ever wonder if prayer works?  Does it really make a difference?  Prayer is our connection to God!  God has planned for and ordained prayer and that He will work through our prayers.  The effective praying person will put on the armor of God before praying. (vs 10-17)  Another effective way to pray is to use scripture as you pray.  You can pray any time of day or night for as long or as short as you like.  Pray in all trials and joys of your life.  Pray for others.    An effective praying person knows how to pray in agreement with the scriptures, in the Spirit, watchful, alert, perseverant, devoted and by submitting their life to God.

Do you use all parts of prayer?  It is good in Kenya to start a conversation by a proper greeting of the other person and ask how is the day, the family, the parents and the cows.  In the same way, you begin the prayer with greeting the heavenly father with some words of adoration and praise.  Such as God's faithfulness, creation, power, love, forgiveness, holiness and more.
Second, you can confess humbly who we are in our failures to live up to God's standard.  We remember our weakness, our sin, and we agree with God about it.  We can not do this life without God and we acknowledge it.
Third, we are to remember our blessings and be thankful to God for them.  Even in our trials, there are things to be thankful for.  Can you be thankful for your salvation, your family, your friends, your church, your country, your relationship with God and even we can thank God for the trials in our lives because of the growth that it brings (James 1:2-4)
Fourth, we will be bringing our petitions, our requests, to God.  This is prayer for others and for yourself.  God has asked us to bring our requests to Him. (Philippians 4:6)  There are three ways God can answer.  God might say, "No" if it is not the best thing for us or if we didn't ask according to correct interpretation of scripture.  God may say "Yes" if our petition is based on God's principles and we are praying in the Spirit.  God may say, "Wait" when the timing isn't right.  We are always learning more of God's ways and the way He answers our prayers.  We can be sure that if we are in a right relationship with Him, that we are never alone and He always hears us.

Can you focus on prayer this week?  What part of prayer can you strengthen in your life?  Is it using all the parts?  Is it learning more of the scriptures?  Is it devoting more time to prayer?  Is it praying for others more often and faithfully?  Is it finding joy in your trials and having thankfulness?
"Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near."  Isaiah 55:6

~Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Angels to Help Us

Scripture Reading: Acts 5:17-27
Focus Verse: Acts 5:19  "But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth."

God will not have His plan thwarted.  There is a spiritual battle for the souls and we should make sure we are on the Lord's side.

Demonic activity is on the increase, because Satan knows that his time is short.  I have seen the influence of evil on some lives in Kenya.  Sometimes I think the enemy works extra hard on someone who has abandoned his old life and is working to spread the Gospel.    The good news is that if you put your trust in God, He will not allow His plan to be ruined.  He will work all things for the good. (Romans 8:28)  He has sent His angels to help us and to watch over us.  They work in obedience to God.  In our passage in Acts we see that the angel of the Lord came to the apostles at night and released them from jail.  God did this because He had a job for them to do, to take the message of life to the people at the temple.

As a believer in Christ, God has a job for you to do also.  He will not allow Satan to stand in the way.  So the next time Satan attempts to block your efforts, remember God's angels are all around you.  God will make a way for you to obey.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Read more about abandoning the old life: Ephesians 4

Christ, The Foundation for Reconciliation!

Christ, The Foundation for Reconciliation!
Bible Reading: Mathew 5: 21-24

Focus verse: "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." 1 John 1:7

We all make friendships which at times break when we get tired with putting up with one another. Good friends have many at times feel like great enemies for different reasons.
We all try to make parties where we can discuss our differences in attempts to reconcile with friends; some people may spend huge amounts of money or wealth in this attempt. Many communities in Africa believe in doing rituals which must involve shedding of the blood of an animal for reconciliation to happen. These and many others attempts that we make many at times have not yielded the true and lasting reconciliation that we needed.

Many fail to identify Jesus to be the foundation and author of reconciliation. They want bloodshed of animals but fail to recognize the unstained, perfect, holy, blameless blood of the Lamb that God has offered for their enmity.   Jesus knows your differences and He understands how to mend.

Our sins have separated us from God and we live as his enemies. God does not want us to stay as enemies with him or with other human beings/creatures. He has offered Christ so that we don’t live again as enemies but be reconciled back to him and then to othes. Christ is today standing at each ones door, wanting to help make their relationship with our God and others, which has not worked despite our attempts. He does not want us to continue to stay far from him or our other friends. He wants us back to Him and as well want our loved friends back to us. He wants to save us from spending our wealth and time in building reconciliations by offering the perfect Reconciler at a free cost.  Each time we are faced with differences we need to let Christ be the reason for our reconciliation, he is able to bring true repentance of forgiveness from the heart.

Eliazar Wambo
Pastor Makira Baptist Church, Mfangano  

Additional verses:
Romans 5:10
Matthew 18:15

Love a Neighbor

Bible 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 others 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.  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.  

Today I went to visit a sick friend.  I was able to help her with a few things at her home, care for her, and then shared a Bible reading and prayer with her.  She was so encouraged and thanked me many times for coming.  When you help someone, the Holy Spirit confirms in your heart that you are doing something good.  You know that is a good feeling.  It is good to join others in their time of suffering and need.  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 each day.  May God be glorified in any effort of care that I show to someone today.  May we work together showing the care that would cause Jesus to be pleased.

Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Extra reading: portrayals of many good Samaritans in Luke 17:11-19; Acts 8:5-7; 15:3, as well as John 4:4-42

Jesus is Enough

Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 2 
Focus Verse:  " For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified." 1 Corinthians 2:2

Are you having financial trouble?
Are you sick and hurting?
Are you lonely?
Are you rejected?
Are you mourning?
Are you discouraged?
Are you depressed?
Are you anxious?
Are you troubled?
Can Jesus really be enough for you?

When you are going through your life, you will have troubles.  Do not be surprised because everyone will face life's trials, each in our own way.  We only need to reach out to him and talk with him. When we spend time in prayer and reading the Bible, we will find the help we need.

“My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior” 2 Samuel 22:3

Jesus said, "Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned: he has crossed over from death to life." John 5:24

"If Jesus is God in human flesh, revealing to us exactly what God is like...
If Jesus holds the highest position in the universe, and everything and everyone is subject to His authority...
If Jesus is greater that anyone or anything in the visible and invisible world...
If Jesus has a purpose that He is actively completing in the universe as well as in your own life...
Then HE IS ENOUGH!"  ~Anne Graham Lotz

No matter what life holds, no matter our trials of health, people that betray or disappoint, personal failure, or difficult finances, if we have JESUS, He is enough.  Decide today to seek him through the Word of God, through Christian discipleship and in prayer.

Thank God for Jesus.

Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries 

Additional reading Romans 8:18-39

Joy In Heaven

Scripture Reading: Luke 15:1-7

Focus Verse: Luke 15:7  “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Have you ever lost your phone or the key to your house?  I have, and I can tell you it’s not a good feeling to lose something.  Actually many times I haven’t lost it, I just can’t remember where I put it.  In Luke 15 Jesus is telling us three stories about a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son.  Jesus told these stories to help those listening to develop a passion to reach lost souls.  But the Pharisees did not care about the lost.  They only cared about their own religious self-righteousness and had so much pride.  They complained because a lost sinner mattered so much to Jesus.  Jesus wants us to reach out to the lost.  And when one sinner is converted, there should be a joyous celebration.  How can we help the lost to find their way?  We can start by living a godly life ourselves, not of our own power, but through the Holy Spirit.  When people see you living not like the rest of the world, they may ask you about the hope and peace that you have in your life.  So be ready to share the Gospel if someone should ask you.  You can also be alert to someone going through a change in their life.  Marriage, divorce, birth, illness, death, or job change.  Many times people are open to the gospel when there is a change in their life.  Thirdly, you can share the gospel with someone you just meet because you never know how God is working in their heart. 

The gospel is the power of God unto salvation.  The Holy Spirit convicts of sin, but God can use what we say to lead them to Christ.  Then when someone does receive Christ, your job is just beginning as you disciple.  You need to help them grow in their new faith in Christ, just as you would feed a new born baby.  Make sure they can find a good church where they can learn and grow.  There will be joy in heaven over each person who repents and comes to Christ.  “Surely this is our God, we trust in Him, and He saved us.  This is the Lord, we trusted in Him, let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.” Isaiah 25:9



Do you still remember the joy you had when you first believed and trusted in Jesus?  There is joy in heaven and hopefully in our own hearts as we see someone repent and begin to follow Christ. 

Extra Reading: Psalm 13:5,  Isaiah 61:10,  Colossians 4:5-6
 
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Interlocking in Ministry

Bible Reading: Ephesians 4

Focus Verse: "He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love."  Ephesians 4:16

"How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!" Psalm 133:1

Did you ever work on a puzzle?  When we gather for time as a family, sometimes we will find a puzzle and put it together.  The pieces interlock together to form a beautiful picture.  It takes focus and effort to find how they fit, but if we don't give up, we will succeed.  Or maybe your puzzle is the house that you are building and the parts of the house must fit together in the right order.

It is how things are supposed to work in the ministry of God when we are yielded to Him.  We fit together... work together with other believers as each of us is shaped differently and filling different roles. We interlock together, bound by Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit and we function as the body of Christ.  It is a beautiful picture of the community we are supposed to have as we love one another, respecting the different roles that God has given us. 

We need to work together with others who are in line with correct theology, but that doesn't mean there is never a struggle.  Do you ever struggle with other ministries or other believers in the same ministry?  As different people, we are sure to struggle to understand one another, but if we approach it in love instead of pride, God will help us to find our roles.  If we push our pride out, we can respect one another and find order in ministry under the headship of Christ.  Together we are stronger and more effective as we walk in unity.  We can use our differences to strengthen and sharpen each other as we serve together in love.  As we strive toward the goal of loving God, loving others and making disciples, we realize how much we need each other to form the beautiful picture that God is making of our lives.  As we make disciples, God is adding to the beautiful picture, one soul at a time.

As we bring each new soul into the church, God is forming His beautiful family.  Each part helping the other to grow.

Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Additional scripture on the Body of Christ 1 Corinthians 12

The Kingdom of Heaven

Scripture Reading: Matthew 13: 24-52

Focus Verses: Matthew 13: 31-32  “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.  Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”

Jesus talked a lot about the Kingdom of Heaven in chapter 13.  For us when we think about the Kingdom of Heaven we think about the place where we will go when we die, if we are a believer in Christ.  Jesus’ listeners had a hard time understanding what He was talking about.  The Kingdom of Heaven is not an easy subject to understand,  so Jesus used parables.  He told stories about food, work, gardening, and fishing to help His listeners understand.  The way Jesus told His stories the message was not always clear, and this would cause the listener to search and seek out the hidden meaning.  In the words of T.S. Eliot, “hints followed by guesses”.  We do see that He would explain the meanings to His disciples when he was alone with them.

When Jesus spoke of the mustard seed growing from a tiny seed into a great tree, this parable reminds us that our hope is in a kingdom that is coming.  But going deeper into this parable, trees in the Bible are often linked to God’s rule and reign that is great and strong, and this is seen throughout the earth. Daniel 4:11.  Also birds are often linked to God’s oppressed people who are in search of a home and place of rest.  God is going to provide shelter for the vulnerable that are searching for safety in a home.  “Under His tree every kind of bird will live, in the shade of its branches will nest winged creatures of every kind.” Ezekiel 17:23

Jesus’ story reminds us that our hope is in His coming Kingdom.  God invites everyone who is tired and weary to come and find their rest and true home.  “Come to Me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28.  Can you claim this promise of rest in God’s coming Kingdom?  If not, trust Christ today for the forgiveness of your sins, and invite Him to be your Lord and Savior.  If you have trusted Christ for your savior, you can be encouraged that a greater thing is coming, the Kingdom of Heaven!

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Will You Trust God Completely?

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 12

Focus Verses: Isaiah 12:2-3  "Surely God is my salvation,  I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song, he has become my salvation.  With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” 

To completely trust God is a decision that every believer needs to make.  It means you will give God total control of your life.  We are not able to figure out this life completely, but we are able to trust in God, and He has figured out this life completely. 

Do you struggle with trusting God?  Failure to trust is a pride issue about control.  Sooner or later you will discover that you are not able to run your own life.  In reality, God already has complete control over you whether you trust him or not. You had no control over when you were born.  You have no control over your next heart beat.  Jesus said, “without Me you can do nothing.”  If you can trust Him with your eternal salvation, you can trust Him with your life here on earth.  If you can trust Him with the big things, you can trust Him with the small things.  God will always finish what He starts in your life.  If He led you into a job, then He will give you the ability to do that job.  If he led you to have children, then He will provide your needs to take care of those children.  Wherever God leads He provides.  What God starts He completes.  God’s part is to provide, your part is to trust Him.  Don’t let Satan tell you tell you that "God may do some things, but He can’t do these other things.” 

God can do all that He wants to do in your life.  The Bible says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your path.”  Proverbs 3:5-6.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

God Plus You

Scripture Reading:  1 Kings18: 20-40

Focus Verse: 1 Kings 18: 22 “Then Elijah said to the people, I alone am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty.”

Do you ever feel alone in your life?  There’s an old saying, “God plus one is a majority.”  A more accurate account is that God plus none is still a majority.  God is bigger than anything.  God is greater than any who would come against Him.

Elijah knew this when he climbed up Mount Carmel to go against 450 prophets of Baal.  Elijah knew that himself plus God was still the majority.  This was a true test of faith for Elijah.  Are you able to see yourself in the majority when God is on your side?  You may not be coming up against 450 prophets of Baal,  but you may come up against circumstances where you see no way out.  With God on your side there is a way out and there is a solution.  Elijah needed for God to show Himself all powerful.  The nation of Israel needed to see the power of God demonstrated against the false prophets of Baal.  Because Elijah had asked them in verse 22, “how long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him, but if Baal, follow him.”  The prophets of Baal called to their god.  No answer.  In fact, they called all day and there was no answer because they were calling to a god that is not alive.  Then Elijah said in verse 37, “O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again." Verse 38, "Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, the wood, the stones, the dust, and the water."  Everyone saw that day that Elijah plus God was the majority.

Don’t hesitate to ask God to be on your side against whatever you are facing.  He will be with you and direct you.  Remember, with God, all things are possible.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Unshakable Faith

By Shana Schutte - Wisdom Hunters Devotion

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 1 Peter 5:10

During college, Glen House experienced a tragic skiing accident. His plans had been to graduate, go to medical school, and become a surgeon. After hitting an icy run, he flew headlong into a tree and sustained a massive head injury. The results were not good.

Glen was paralyzed.

With minimal use of his arms and hands, handling the delicate instruments and movements of surgery would have been impossible.

But he didn’t give up.

Within a few weeks, Glen returned to school to continue studying medicine. He was still determined to be a doctor—but for others like himself who had spinal cord injuries.

One day after he had started his practice, he was summoned to the hospital room of a new patient, a college student who was paralyzed due to a motorcycle accident. Understandably, the young man was distraught. “I just wanted to have a wife and children. I wanted a family.” His face fell.

Glen rolled his wheelchair closer to the young man’s bedside, pulled out his wallet, and retrieved a photo of his wife and two girls. He showed it to the young man. “Well, then get up and have a family,” Glen said.

Glen knew a secret that many of us forget when our hopes for a purposeful and meaningful future are stripped away through loss. He knew that when we have hope and faith in the unshakeable, that we will be unshakeable as well—and our confidence for a meaningful and purposeful future will remain intact.

If the object of my faith is my ability to sing, and I lose my voice due to an infection, all hope for a purposeful future is lost.

If the object of my faith is my ability to cultivate a happy marriage, but my mate files for divorce, all hope for a purposeful and meaningful future is lost.

If the object of my faith is my ability to be a rock climber, but then I lose that ability through blindness, all hope for a meaningful and purposeful future is lost.

But when the object of my faith is unshakeable, I will be unshakeable as well.

Because nothing can separate you from God’s love, there is nothing that can separate you from the purposes that He has for your life—nothing. Nothing can truly shake you. In this you can have hope and faith—and that is a promise that no one and no circumstance can take away.

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).

Prayer:  Lord, how I praise you that because I can never be separated from your love, my life will always have purpose and meaning no matter what happens. Thank you, Lord. Amen.

Application: Reflect on how the Lord has taught you to trust Him over those things that can be shaken.

Additional Reading:

Romans 14:8  “If we live, it’s to honor the Lord.  And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord.  So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”

2 Timothy 1:12  “I am suffering here in prison.  But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the One in whom I trust, and I am sure that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until the day of His return.”

By Shana Schutte - Wisdom Hunters Devotion subscribe here: https://www.wisdomhunters.com/subscribe/

Do More Than Expected

Scripture Reading: Philemon 1:8-22

Focus Verse: Philemon 1:21 “Confident of our obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.”

We should try to do more than is expected of us, because that is what Christ has done for us.  God doesn’t do anything halfway.  When God does something for us He exceeds our expectations.  Ephesians 3:20-21 ^"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, ²¹ to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."  So when God asks us to do something let’s try and do it with passion and exceed expectations.  You can also exceed expectations at work.  When others see you working hard, they may ask you why, and this gives you opportunity to witness for Christ.  You may get a promotion at work when you exceed expectations.  Employers will often reward hard work with a promotion and increase pay.  The apostle Paul noticed when expectations where exceeded. 

He writes in 2 Corinthians 8:3 “For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.  Entirely on their own.”

Marriage is another place where you can serve beyond what is expected of you.  Have you ever tried to serve your spouse more than they serve you?  Nobody has ever complained that their spouse loves and respects them too much.  Exceeding expectation in your home will give you a happy home.  Your home is not about you it’s about others in your home.  When you serve others, most times you will then see others begin to serve you.  We don’t keep score to see who serves the most, but we can serve so others will see in us the example God has set before us. 

God has asked us to give a 10% tithe.  What would happen if you exceeded expectations and gave 12% or 15%?  Do you think you would go bankrupt?  I don’t think so, God would probably exceed expectation in your life.  So let’s exceed expectations in someones life and see what happens.

2 Corinthians 8:5  “They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.”



Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Confidence in God as We Face Difficulties

Scripture Reading:  Habakkuk 3

Focus Verses:  Habakkuk 3:17-18   "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior."

There has been some research done about why people leave their faith in Christ.  Many times it is because people were disappointed because their expectation of God was not being met.  They prayed for something and their prayers seemed to go unanswered or were not answered the way they wanted them to be answered. So basically these people are saying “God has not done things the way I think they should be done."  Or there saying “I know how things should be done better than God.”  Let’s remember Jesus never promised that this life would be without pain and suffering.  Those days won’t come until we get to heaven.  If you can only love God when everything is going good for you then your Christian life will be a disappointment.  Our Christian life doesn’t work because we always get what we want.  It works because Jesus is always with us to help us get through the hard times.  He will never leave us.  There will be times when God will answer your prayers the way you want, and we can be thankful for that, but when He doesn’t, you can trust that God has a better plan that He is working out in your life.  That’s where faith and trust come in as well as learning to rejoice in our Savior.  So let’s always live knowing that God is doing what is best for us.  “The righteous will live by faith” Romans 1:7  And God is worthy of our faith.  Habakkuk never forgot the power and might of God and recounts it in the first part of the prayer in Chapter 3 as he asks God for help.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Always Trusting God

Always Trusting God

Scripture Reading: Psalm 18:30-50

Focus Verses: Psalm 18:30-32  “As for God, His way is perfect, the word of the Lord is proven, He is a shield to all who trust in Him.  For who is God, except the Lord?  And who is a rock except our God?  It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect.”

God’s ways will always be much higher than our ways.  Why is that?  Because God is all knowing and all powerful.  No one knows more than God, and no one is more powerful than God.  This is the God that created the universe with everything we see.  He cares for you individually and loves you individually.  Today’s verses tell us that God’s ways are complete.  God is our shield, our defense, and our rock when we place our faith in Him.  God Almighty is a sure foundation that can not be shaken, not even by Satan himself.  The Lord our God can be completely trusted at all times.  Even when we don’t understand what is going on, God can still be completely trusted.  Where else can you turn when troubles arise?  It only makes sense to turn to the most powerful One.  So trust God at all times and walk in His ways.  Obey what He says in His word.  There is no one like our God.  You can always and completely trust Him.

What area of your life are you needing to trust God more than trusting your own strength?
Additional study of the life of Gideon and God's ways in Judges chapters 6-7

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Thanks Jude

Thanks Jude
Bible Reading: Jude
Focus verse: "I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ." Jude 4

Jude, the half-brother of Jesus, wrote a letter to those who are together in the salvation of Jesus.  He really wanted to send a letter rejoicing in their common salvation, but could sense that he should be sending some warnings as well.  The first warning is to strive to keep the gospel pure and not distorted.  He wants you to check what preachers teach to see if they match up to the Bible, the original writings.  False teachers will be plentiful in the last days.  It's interesting that the book of Jude comes before Revelation in the Bible.  There are many who claim to speak for God today.

How can you find the true preachers?  How do you notice a false teacher?

First, you must study the Word of God for yourself.  When you know the truth, you will recognize a lie.

Second, be sure of their views are right on who Jesus is, the trinity, repentance and Christ's work of redemption for salvation.  Matthew 16:15-16  Is the Gospel part of their message or does it seem incomplete or perverted?

Third, look for the fruit of a Christian in their lives. Matthew 12:33 Do you see a heart that is affected by the Holy Spirit in their lives. Nobody is perfect, but do their lives show fruits of the Spirit?  Galatians 5:22-23  Do you see humility or pride?

Fourth, are they teaching from the Bible or their own ideas and thoughts of what is reasonable to them?  It may sound good, but our hearts can deceive us.  The Bible says "Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son." 2 John 9  Remember that at false teacher can have good intentions, but in the end, they are a tool of the enemy

Thanks Jude, for the warnings, caution and encouragement!  We must be aware of false teachers and the dangers of following them.  We must remain faithful to the true Gospel and encourage one another.  We must show mercy to those whose faith wavers, rescue some from judgement, show mercy to people while hating the sin that contaminates their lives.  May God have glory in our lives as he keeps us completely His forever.

~Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

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

One day 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 good.  Although she doesn't agree, she faced a choice to accept the vote and live in peace or choose to live in discord and maybe anger.  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 make peace, 
rather
 than
 brother
 against
 brother
 in
 court
 thus shaming the church, it becomes necessary that Christian brother
s (sisters) 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.  The true enemy, Satan and his demons, seek to sow discord in the body of Christ.  We do not fight against flesh and blood, but against the unseen enemy of evil. 
Further reading: James 4

~Page Johnson
Interlocking Minstries

Head or Heart Knowledge?

Head or Heart Knowledge?

Scripture Reading: Romans 10

Focus Verses: Romans 10:9-10 “If you declare with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”

Some people don’t realize it, but there is a big difference between having head knowledge about God and having faith in God in your heart.  If you know facts about God that is totally different than having faith in God.  You could actually miss heaven by 45 centimeters.  That’s the distance between your head and your heart.

Maybe you’ve got all the facts about God in your head, but you have never repented (turned away from) your sins and accepted by faith (complete trust) in Jesus.  Ephesians 2:8-9 says by faith you are saved, not what you know or what you have done.  You can talk the Christian language, go to church, be a kind person, give money to the poor and not really be saved.  You can fool others and maybe even fool yourself, but you can’t fool God.  He can see right through a fake relationship with Him.  The question is, have you ever been transformed through God’s saving power through Jesus Christ?

Isaiah 29:13 “The Lord says, These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught."  Don’t resist yielding to God with all the head knowledge that you may have of Him.  He wants you to come to Jesus with a childlike faith and receive Christ as your Lord and Savior.

If you never have humbled yourself, bow your head now.  Ask forgiveness of your sins in humble repentance, and accept Him into your live as Lord and Savior.  John 3:3 Jesus said, “except a man is born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Additional reading for assurance of salvation.  1 John 5:13 Are you placing your complete hopes on Jesus our yourself?  Colossians 3:12 You also have a new nature that brings new desires; godly desires.  That's how you know.

Full Obedience in Faith

Bible reading:  Judges 1:19-36

Focus verse:   Hebrews 13:20-21  "Now may the God of peace—who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood—may he equip you with all you need for doing his will.  May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him.  All glory to him forever and ever! Amen."

Back in Exodus 23: 23-33,  God gave the rules for entering and living in the promised land.  He said clearly that were not to make any agreements with the enemy or even allow them to live in the land or else they would cause them to sin and their worship of other gods would be a snare to them.  Now we read in Judges that they went into the land, but did not complete the command to totally drive out the people.  They lived with them.  They kept some as slaves.  The Danites (Dan line of the Israelites) never entered their land, but lived on the rugged edges of it.  There were consequences for this partial obedience.  They began to weaken and began serving Baal.

Obedience is also the evidence of faith.  It takes faith to obey things we don't fully understand. “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” Hebrews 11:6  Obedience flows from this faith that pleases God and it proves that we love Jesus.   Jesus said, "If you love me, keep my commands." John 14:15  

The Bible clearly tells us the things that we should do.  We may try to think in our own minds why we would not obey God completely, but only part of it.  We become an enemy of our own selves when we talk ourselves out of obeying God.   We miss out on His blessings and suffer consequences.  If you have disobeyed, then you should repent and begin obeying Him.

What is God telling you?  Obey it completely.  Even if you feel like you are alone in your obedience to God, continue in your trust in Him and obey.  He promises to equip you with all you need to do His will. 

Quote:  “Satan's cause is never more in danger than when a human being..., intending to do God's will, looks around upon a world from which every trace of God seems to have vanished and asks why he has been forsaken, yet still obeys.”  ~C. S. Lewis

Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Self or Spirit Led

Scripture Reading: Galatians 5:13-26

Focus verse: "As for you, my friends, you were called to be free. But do not let this freedom become an excuse for letting your physical desires control you. Instead, let love make you serve one another." Galatians 5:13

Jesus called me to Him.  I began to follow Him and was set free from my sins.  And the Spirit comes into my life and gives me desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires.  I find the fruits of the Spirit nature coming in my life.  Sometimes, however, the human nature creeps in and I fail.  This can happen when I am focused on myself, my desires and even if I am focused on my failures.

Though God set me free, in my freedom, I should not give excuses for following my own selfish desires.  My human nature will lie to me and so will the enemy.  My human nature will lead me astray and that way will destroy myself and others.  My human nature will lead me to anger, jealousy, selfish ambition, fighting and separation from other believers.  If I follow my human nature long enough, I can become blinded by it and fall even deeper into sin.  In my pride, I will blame others and make excuses for my decisions and actions.  I may not even see the pit that I am in, until suddenly, I feel lost and God makes it clear through conviction of the Holy Spirit. 

I need to decide every day to focus on the Spirit.  Plan each step with God to walk with Him and allow Him to lead you.  This is what the Spirit produces:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Is this what my life looks like?  You can not follow selfish human desires and the Spirit at the same time.  If you are sensitive to God's Spirit, you will know when you have strayed and can make a correction.

Today is a good day to examine your life.  Do you see the fruits of human nature or the fruits of Spirit nature?  Commit to spend some time in prayer today about anything that you need God to change in your life.  Ask God to open your eyes to see truth.  Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

~Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Additional scripture:
Matthew 6:24

How To Know You Are Saved

Scripture Reading: Romans 4:13-25

Focus Verses: Romans 4:24-25  “God will credit righteousness for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.  He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.”

How are we saved?  How do we become a Christian?  It is not a complicated process.  First we recognize that we can not save ourselves.  There is nothing we can do that is good enough.  Verse 15 says that we still get punishment if we rely on the law.  You may have done a lot of good things in your life, but I can assure you, you have also done a lot of bad things also.  I sure have.  The good news is in verse 24 that says, " for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead."  We need to tell God we are sorry for our sins.  We are sorry for the things we have done wrong.  You must believe that Jesus died on a cross to pay for your sins, and that three days later the power of God raised Jesus from the dead.  He came out of the grave just as He said.   We were not there to see these things happen with our own eyes, so we must demonstrate faith and believe that this happened.  The Bible is trustworthy and true, so what the Bible says you can believe.  We turn and walk a new life with God.

I attended the funeral of a five year old girl today.  We mourned with her family, but we also celebrated her life today, because we have the hope that we will see her again one day.  We heard testimony that she had a childlike faith, but also she perhaps had not reached the age of accountability.  Where does this faith start?  The resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of our faith.

Preaching without the cross and the power of the resurrection leaves out the most important thing:  If Christ did not raise from the dead, then we have no hope after the grave. It’s all because Jesus was raised from the grave that we have hope!  Have you settled in your heart the reality of Jesus’ resurrection?  If not, accept it today.  Don’t be swayed by the beliefs of this world.  There will always be those out there who try to justify their conduct.  They will say Christ is not who he claimed to be.  But we know better, because He has changed our lives.  2 Corinthians 5:15  says, “And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again.”

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Being Humble in God’s Eyes

Bible Reading Isaiah 66:1-6
Focus Verse: "I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word." Isaiah 66:2b
Have you ever heard the expression “It is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.”?  I remember the first time I heard it.  I was slightly shocked because it didn’t seem like it was moral.  I came to realize that it could be tempting if your parents or your boss was very forgiving.  You could really get into a habit of taking advantage of that forgiveness.  You could do things your way with your ideas and it will be much easier.  The attitude behind that thought process is not humility, but pride.  You are putting your own selfish desires above your authority.  You are using a position of pride and selfishness to do what you want.

A pastor, John Piper, once said that he needed prayers of the church people that God would help him to be humble.  This is what he prays for himself, "[God,]Before I give way to any kind of proud misuse of this influence for my ego, kill me. Take me before I ruin this church, this ministry, and these books. If I have to end on a note that would cast a pall over an entire life of effort, please take me before that happens."  Wow, that is commitment to God's calling.  He is also realizing that we all have the capacity to have sinful pride that can lead to ruin of ourselves and our ministry.  It sounds like Piper trembles before God's authority.

The scripture reading today reminded me of this, because the Lord our God is the ultimate boss.  He is big and mighty.  He lives in heaven and puts his feet on earth.  If we know what is wrong and we do it anyway, we are living in pride.  Even if we come asking for forgiveness, it is does not honor God.  It reminds me of 1 Samuel 15:22 that says,

“Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
   as much as in obeying the LORD?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
   and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”

God says that He looks on us with favor when we are humble and recognize the authority of God.  When we hear His Word and tremble at His Word we are blessed.  Do you know what God expects from you?  Will you take advantage of his grace by pridefully sinning more or will you submit yourself to Him and humbly do His will?

It is better to ask for permission than forgiveness.

~Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Accomplish Infinitely More

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 3:14-21

Focus Verse: Ephesians 3:20  “Now all glory to God who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”

Our focus verse is a very powerful promise in God’s Word, but to have this power at work within us Paul says that as Christians "we need to be filled with all the fullness of God.”  How do we do that?  I think there are a number of things we should do to be filled with the fullness of God.  We can start by kneeling humbly before God with a heart of faith.  Then become rooted in and obey His Word.  We seek to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind. 

We can also answer “the call” he has placed on our lives.  I believe that no matter what your profession is, God has called you to make disciples for His Kingdom.  This is one area where God will "accomplish infinitely” more than we might ask or think.  When a soul is won for Christ, that person will live forever in heaven.  No end!  Eternity is difficult to imagine. 

God really does want to use us to spread the Gospel... that Jesus died for our sins, and invites us to repent and live in heaven with Him for all eternity.  We could have no greater task in this world.  Proverbs 11:30 says, “He who wins souls is wise.”  I want to be doing something that will have lasting results for eternity, not for my glory, but for His Glory.  How about you?

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Jesus Knows About Your Suffering

Scripture Reading: John 11: 1-16

Focus Verses John 11: 3-4 “Lord, the one you love is sick.  When He heard this, Jesus said, this sickness will not end in death.  No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”

For most of us we don’t need to look very far to see someone that is ill.  Maybe it’s your parent, child, or even a close friend, or maybe yourself.  Sickness is something that happens in our lives because we are human.  Often it is the source of our fears and anxiety. 

As a believer in Christ we are invited to take our pain, sickness, and suffering to Jesus.  Many people have taken this path before you did.  And many have endured more sever suffering than you.  In fact no one knows about your suffering more than Jesus.  He suffered too, but we must remember that His suffering led to an empty tomb.  The suffering you are going through today is not the end.  As believers in Jesus we have so much more to look forward to.  Do you believe this?  John 11:35 says “Jesus wept.”  He was with his friends, Mary and Martha, who were weeping and it's possible that His weeping was compassion for their suffering.  (A demonstration of Romans 12:15) He knows our suffering.

As we look at the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, God is saying “do you trust Me?”  We are never forgotten or left alone in our suffering.  We can trust that in our suffering God is able to bring about our healing if He chooses.  You may feel abandoned or forgotten.  Maybe you think there is no end in sight.  God knows what you are going through.  He suffered too, even to the point of death.  It is a mystery of our faith how Jesus died, and then was raised to life, but we also know He is coming again, and we will be raised with Him.  Let us rejoice in Him, no matter what suffering we are going through right now.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

The Intimacy of Waiting

Bible Reading Genesis 40
Focus Verse: "Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you;
And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
Blessed are all those who wait for Him." Isaiah 30:18

"Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him." Genesis 40:23  This feels like a very disappointing verse in the Bible.  Does it seem like God is failing to save Joseph?  I'm glad this isn't the end of Joseph's story.  Did you ever wait for God?  Are you waiting now?  If we are seeking God, why does He make us wait when we pray to him?  Waiting is biblical and a few examples are these:
Noah waited for the waters to go down before coming out of the ark.  He was on the ark 370 days.
David waited 15 years to be king.
Job waited for God to heal him.
Abraham waited 25 years for his son.
Moses waited 40 years in the wilderness.
and there are more.

Biblical waiting is seeking intimacy with God.  Humble yourself to Him and acknowledge your need of Him.  Persistently seek His will in all that you do, being careful not to rely on yourself and lead God like Abraham did when he made for himself a son with a handmaiden, but to wait on God. (Gen. 16:1)  Acknowledge God's sovereignty and power and that He has the power and the right to give and take away for reasons that we may not understand.  Paul waited and prayed about his thorn in the flesh and was given grace.  This was not what he expected, but God knows what is best for our lives.

Why must we sometimes wait?  Every delay and trial on this side of the waiting is being used to shape you.  God does not waste this time, so make sure you get up early and spend some time with Him.  There can be many ways God wants to shape us.  First, waiting reveals our true motives. (James 4:3)  It gives us time to examine if what we have been praying for fits into God's will for our lives.  We need to give God time to teach us His priorities.  Secondly, the delay can build patience, perseverance and hope.  (Romans 5:4-5 "And patience produces character, and character produces hope.  And this hope will never disappoint us, because God has poured out his love to fill our hearts. He gave us his love through the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to us.")   Third, waiting builds intimacy with God.  Our needs and desires will drive us toward God as we seek Him.  We will focus on what God has asked of us today and respond with obedience as Joseph did.  If we don't see results, we accept the hope and grace that God gives and press on.  God is always faithful even in the waiting. We hold on to him as our anchor.  Our relationship with God is more important than anything that we are waiting for.

Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

God of Impossible Things

Bible Reading: Psalm 147:3-11
Focus Verse: "But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” ~ Matthew 19:26 ESV

This is a good day to reflect on God and the things he has done for you.  So often, we rush into our day with our things to do.  We need to stop and realize what we have in our God.  See what the scriptures say: God is GREAT and MIGHTY in power.  His understanding has no limit.  He covered the sky with clouds, made and named all the stars, supplies the earth with rain and causes the grass to grow.  He feeds the cattle and young ravens.  He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounded heart.  The Lord delights in those who fear him and who put their hope in His unfailing love.

There are so many man-made distractions to the greatness of God.  I know that I take the blessings of God for granted many times.  I have even looked with desire at material things when I should be satisfied with what God has already given me.  We need to recognize the greatness of God in our lives.

How do we respond to this greatness of God? Verse seven says that we should sing to the Lord with thanksgiving and make music on the harp.  Well, I don’t have a harp, but I can play songs of thanks and praise God along with the music.  Spend some time reading the verses again and thanking God for his greatness in your life.  Maybe you’d like to read some scripture to your family as you gather around the table.  When you realize that God does the impossible things, you can be more encouraged in your life because God is for us.

~Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
More verses:
Jeremiah 32:17
Jeremiah 32:27
Job 42:2
Mark 10:27
Luke 1:37

Don't Stop

Scripture: Matthew 26:6-13also found in Mark 14:3-9 and John 12:1-8

Focus verse: "But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me." Matthew 26:10

Not everyone will support your ministry to the Lord but don't stop what God has led you to do.  Every time we want to do something we tend to wait for the approval of men before we do it. We tend to listen so much to what to what other people will think about us or say about our actions at the expense of our service to God. The result of this is either we quit doing it or do it within the approval/standard of the people we value in our lives. But really, are our actions guided by our love for God? Are we doing because we want to please God or man?

In this Scripture, Mary of Bethany realizes her great love for Jesus as her guiding principle towards toward serving the Lord. She takes an expensive oil from the alabaster and anoints the feet of Jesus with it and wipes Jesus feet with her own hair. One of the disciples, Judas, complains about her service but she is never distracted by this. In fact she uses very expensive oil that would have been sold for enough money to help the poor. According to Mary, the price of that alabaster oil could not compare the great love of Jesus for her life and in turn uses it as an expression of her great love for Him.



We too need to show the great love for God without limits. We need to support the work of God with our best resources without fear of contradiction. We must not listen to the other voices but keep a focus onto what God’s word is telling us. Our actions should reflect our love for Him. Not all people will support your ministry or your giving to the Lord so don’t wait for their approval.  


"Stay excited about your faith as you serve the Lord." Romans 12:11

 "Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God—what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect." Romans 12:2

Written by Pastor Eliazar Wambo
Bethesda Faith Ministries

Easter is for Second Chances

Bible Reading: Mark 16Focus verse:

"But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you." Mark 16:6-7

Do you need a second chance today? On the first Easter morning, Peter needed one. There in the Upper Room, he had insisted that he would never deny Christ. But just as Jesus had predicted, Peter not only denied the Lord, but he denied Him three times. The last glimpse Peter had of Jesus before His crucifixion was in the glow of the fire in the high priest's courtyard, where he actually made eye contact with Jesus. And then he went out and wept bitterly.What kind of look do you think Jesus gave Peter when their eyes met? Do you think it was one of those I-told-you-so looks? Do you think it was one of scorn, as if to say, "How could you betray Me?" I don't think it was either one. I think it was a look of love, a look of compassion that said, "I still love you, Peter." And I believe that is why Peter went out and wept bitterly. He had failed the Lord so miserably. He probably thought there was no hope for him.  But then a message went out from the empty tomb that Jesus had risen, followed by these instructions, "Go, tell His disciples—and Peter. . . ." It was not, "Go tell the disciples, including Peter, James, and John. . . ." It was just Peter, because Peter needed a special word of encouragement.

 

Do you need encouragement today?  Maybe you have fallen short. You didn't plan on it, but it happened. And like Peter, maybe you ended up with the wrong people in the wrong place at the wrong time, ultimately doing the wrong thing.God gave Peter a second chance. And He will give you one, too—because Easter is for the person who needs a second chance. 

 

By Greg Laurie

The Purpose of the Church

Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 

Focus verses: "Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.  And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near." Hebrews 10: 24-25
 
What is the church?
The church, also known in scripture as “the body of Christ” (Colossians 1:24, Ephesians 5:23), it is not the building we gather in on Sunday morning, although that is what we often think of when we consider the church. The church is made up of the believers in Christ, those who believe that Jesus Christ came to earth and died for our sins, and trust Him as the way to receive forgiveness for the sins we have committed, so that we can have a relationship with God. Together we encourage one another as we go through life, build each other up as we seek to follow Christ. 

What is the purpose of the church?
Ultimately our purpose is to glorify God with our lives (1 Corinthians 10:23-33). As the church our role is to bring glory to God. As we see in our main reading that we are not each given the same role, we have different purposes within the body. The Lord has given each of us different personalities, skills, talents and spiritual gifts. When we compare ourselves to others we tend to get discouraged because we might get jealous of someone else’s gifts and not be happy with our own (v. 15-16). Instead we see that not everyone can be an eye (v. 17) we each have our own strengths to bring to the body of Christ. In the same way we should also be careful not to think of our gifts as better than the gifts of someone else (v. 22-23). What we as humans might consider as insignificant could be the most honorable. We need to make sure that we as the body of Christ are not divided (v. 25). There needs to be respect for one another, if there are any arguments we need to make sure we are not holding a grudge towards any believers. It is important that we remember that they are human too, they make mistakes just like you, we should be quick to forgive one another. If we are distracted with hatred towards one another this keeps us from fulfilling our purpose as the body of Christ. Our purpose is to suffer together and to rejoice together, we are the church so we don’t have to go through life alone, we need one another (v. 26). God has given each of us a different role so instead of getting jealous we need to learn what our gifts are and to use them to give God the glory. If you are unsure of what your spiritual gift is you can ask someone who knows you well that is a spiritual leader over you, maybe a parent, your youth pastor or a close friend. 

Pray:
God thank you for creating us differently and for a purpose. Help me to recognize the spiritual gifts you have given me. Show me how I can use these gifts to glorify you Lord. Help me to use the gifts to encourage other believers and in sharing the gospel with those who don’t have a relationship with you. Remind me that you have given me different gifts for a reason and that you would keep me from being jealous of others’ gifts. I love you Lord. Amen. 

written by Tamara Johnson