Scripture Reading: Matthew 24:42-51
Focus Verse: Matthew 24:45 "A
faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the
responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding
them."
As you look at the bad news from around the world today, you would think
that the world is falling apart. It's true that there is conflict and
serious problems in many countries, but what are we to do during such
difficult times?
Dwight Moody once said, "I look upon this world as a wrecked
vessel. It's ruin is getting nearer and nearer. God said, Moody,
here's a lifeboat. Go out and rescue as many as you can before the ship
sinks."
The answer is that we are to do the same thing in tough times that we do during
times of peace when everything is going well. John 9:4 says, "We must
quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The
night is coming, and then no one can work." There is a final day coming
when our work must stop. If we don't get busy now, we will not be able
to finish the task Christ has given us to do.
If the end seemed near then in 1899 when Moody lived, how much closer to
the end we must be now? Much of the world is still open to the
Gospel. What are you doing about it? We are not responsible for the
generation that lived before us, and we are not responsible for the
generation that will live after us. We are responsible to reach this
generation for Christ.
Every year we are seeing thousands of people come to Christ in Western
Kenya, but also every year thousands of people die and slip into
eternity without Christ. We will not stop giving out the good news. We
will not retreat, we will not get tired. We will work until that final
day when Christ returns and takes us home.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Saturday, January 27, 2018
Friday, January 19, 2018
Dangerous Compromise
Bible Reading: Exodus 8:25-30
Focus verse: "So humble and submit yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7
Moses confronted Pharaoh and did as the Lord commanded. All the doors shut in his face. Did you ever step out in obedience to the Lord and find that doors shut to you? This is a time to keep your eyes and your faith on God. Continue to do as the Lord commands, refuse the compromise and wait for God's timing to open doors. Pharaoh offered for them to go into the wilderness, but not to leave the land. Satan does not want us to go too far from our old lifestyle. Later, Pharaoh asks them to go, but to leave their flocks and in Exodus 10:26 But Moses replied "not a hoof will be left behind." Moses was confronted repeatedly with the opportunity for compromise, but he refused to move from what God had told him. Satan doesn't want you to go too far in following Christ and will be relentless in his attempts to get you to compromise. HOLD FIRM. Tell the devil that he gets nothing and God gets everything!
Before salvation, we were under the control of Satan even though we thought we were under our own control. We didn't realize this because Satan is a liar. After salvation, we can see the truth more clearly, but Satan hates our salvation so much that he will seek to tempt and manipulate, battle your godly decisions, and destroy our lives with his strategies. One of his strategies is compromise.
God tells us to make a break with our past ruler, Satan, and not to be partners with those who live in the dark. (2 Corinthians 6:14-17) If we compromise, we remain in captivity. A life lived in obedience will speak more to the unbelievers than a life of compromise. And your children will respond to the life you lead more than the life you speak.
You can't negotiate with the Devil. A hunter finds a bear and wants a fur coat but the bear wants to discuss the matter. If the hunter does not shoot the bear, then the bear will eat the hunter and the hunter gets his fur coat, though he is dead inside of it. That is how it is to compromise with the devil. Compromise will not bring us to the place that God wants us, but leaves behind a destroyed life and regrets.
~Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Extra reading: 2 Corinthians 6: 14-17 (The Message version) "Don’t become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That’s not partnership; that’s war. Is light best friends with dark? Does Christ go strolling with the Devil? Do trust and mistrust hold hands? Who would think of setting up pagan idols in God’s holy Temple? But that is exactly what we are, each of us a temple in whom God lives. God himself put it this way: “I’ll live in them, move into them; I’ll be their God and they’ll be my people. So leave the corruption and compromise; leave it for good,” says God. “Don’t link up with those who will pollute you. I want you all for myself. I’ll be a Father to you you’ll be sons and daughters to me.” The Word of the Master, God."
Focus verse: "So humble and submit yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7
Moses confronted Pharaoh and did as the Lord commanded. All the doors shut in his face. Did you ever step out in obedience to the Lord and find that doors shut to you? This is a time to keep your eyes and your faith on God. Continue to do as the Lord commands, refuse the compromise and wait for God's timing to open doors. Pharaoh offered for them to go into the wilderness, but not to leave the land. Satan does not want us to go too far from our old lifestyle. Later, Pharaoh asks them to go, but to leave their flocks and in Exodus 10:26 But Moses replied "not a hoof will be left behind." Moses was confronted repeatedly with the opportunity for compromise, but he refused to move from what God had told him. Satan doesn't want you to go too far in following Christ and will be relentless in his attempts to get you to compromise. HOLD FIRM. Tell the devil that he gets nothing and God gets everything!
Before salvation, we were under the control of Satan even though we thought we were under our own control. We didn't realize this because Satan is a liar. After salvation, we can see the truth more clearly, but Satan hates our salvation so much that he will seek to tempt and manipulate, battle your godly decisions, and destroy our lives with his strategies. One of his strategies is compromise.
God tells us to make a break with our past ruler, Satan, and not to be partners with those who live in the dark. (2 Corinthians 6:14-17) If we compromise, we remain in captivity. A life lived in obedience will speak more to the unbelievers than a life of compromise. And your children will respond to the life you lead more than the life you speak.
You can't negotiate with the Devil. A hunter finds a bear and wants a fur coat but the bear wants to discuss the matter. If the hunter does not shoot the bear, then the bear will eat the hunter and the hunter gets his fur coat, though he is dead inside of it. That is how it is to compromise with the devil. Compromise will not bring us to the place that God wants us, but leaves behind a destroyed life and regrets.
~Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Extra reading: 2 Corinthians 6: 14-17 (The Message version) "Don’t become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That’s not partnership; that’s war. Is light best friends with dark? Does Christ go strolling with the Devil? Do trust and mistrust hold hands? Who would think of setting up pagan idols in God’s holy Temple? But that is exactly what we are, each of us a temple in whom God lives. God himself put it this way: “I’ll live in them, move into them; I’ll be their God and they’ll be my people. So leave the corruption and compromise; leave it for good,” says God. “Don’t link up with those who will pollute you. I want you all for myself. I’ll be a Father to you you’ll be sons and daughters to me.” The Word of the Master, God."
Friday, January 12, 2018
Thinking Right Thoughts
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 55
Focus Verses: Isaiah 55: 8-9 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts, says the Lord. And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”
Sometimes the ways of God do not make sense to us. That because we use our human understanding. If we are left to our own understanding we would be miserable. God wants us to tap into His divine understanding. When we learn to think how God thinks it can save us from going down the wrong paths. God’s pathway may not look like the correct way now, but later it will. We must trust His way by faith.
To think like God takes discipline. The world does not understand thoughts of eternal things. The unsaved think the things of the cross are foolishness. 1 Corinthians 2:16 says “You can think like God because you have the mind of Christ.” When you think like Christ you let Him be in control. You trust Him to be in control of circumstances. In this new year lets seek God's thoughts and not our own. Let's pursue God more than other things. God wants to teach you more than you could imagine. Just as rain helps the garden to grow, God's word will bring forth fruit and accomplish everything that He intends. Isaiah 55:10-11
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verses: Isaiah 55: 8-9 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts, says the Lord. And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”
Sometimes the ways of God do not make sense to us. That because we use our human understanding. If we are left to our own understanding we would be miserable. God wants us to tap into His divine understanding. When we learn to think how God thinks it can save us from going down the wrong paths. God’s pathway may not look like the correct way now, but later it will. We must trust His way by faith.
To think like God takes discipline. The world does not understand thoughts of eternal things. The unsaved think the things of the cross are foolishness. 1 Corinthians 2:16 says “You can think like God because you have the mind of Christ.” When you think like Christ you let Him be in control. You trust Him to be in control of circumstances. In this new year lets seek God's thoughts and not our own. Let's pursue God more than other things. God wants to teach you more than you could imagine. Just as rain helps the garden to grow, God's word will bring forth fruit and accomplish everything that He intends. Isaiah 55:10-11
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, January 5, 2018
Maintain A Clear Conscience
Scripture Reading: 1 Timothy 4:1-5
Focus Verses: 1 Timothy 4:1-2 “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.”
I think we all know someone that has walked away from God's standards, and left the faith. We say to ourselves, “why does somebody do that?” How could this happen? Perhaps at one time they seemed as one of the most godly people you know. Now they have abandoned the faith. There are many reasons why someone would leave the faith, but it usually happens one small step at a time. If you put a foot in the wrong direction, listen to the gentle correction of the conscious. 1 Timothy 1:19 says “Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have violated their consciences, as a result their faith has been shipwrecked.” God has given us a conscience to help keep us on the right path, guide and protect us. When we are tempted, our conscience tells us not to violate God's standards. Each time you deliberately ignore your conscience, you are searing your conscience and hardening your heart. Over a period of time, your ability to tell right from wrong will diminish. How can you keep your conscience clear? Treasure your faith in Christ more than anything else and do what you know is right.
Today, as you walk with God, he will speak to you through your conscience, letting you know the difference between right and wrong. Be sure to act on those inner voices so that you do what is right, then your conscience will remain clear. One obedient act at a time strengthens our relationship with Christ and he will measure out our faith. Hebrews 6:11 says “We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized.”
Read also: Galatians 4:19, Acts 24:16, Romans 12:2, and Ephesians 4:23,
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verses: 1 Timothy 4:1-2 “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.”
I think we all know someone that has walked away from God's standards, and left the faith. We say to ourselves, “why does somebody do that?” How could this happen? Perhaps at one time they seemed as one of the most godly people you know. Now they have abandoned the faith. There are many reasons why someone would leave the faith, but it usually happens one small step at a time. If you put a foot in the wrong direction, listen to the gentle correction of the conscious. 1 Timothy 1:19 says “Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have violated their consciences, as a result their faith has been shipwrecked.” God has given us a conscience to help keep us on the right path, guide and protect us. When we are tempted, our conscience tells us not to violate God's standards. Each time you deliberately ignore your conscience, you are searing your conscience and hardening your heart. Over a period of time, your ability to tell right from wrong will diminish. How can you keep your conscience clear? Treasure your faith in Christ more than anything else and do what you know is right.
Today, as you walk with God, he will speak to you through your conscience, letting you know the difference between right and wrong. Be sure to act on those inner voices so that you do what is right, then your conscience will remain clear. One obedient act at a time strengthens our relationship with Christ and he will measure out our faith. Hebrews 6:11 says “We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized.”
Read also: Galatians 4:19, Acts 24:16, Romans 12:2, and Ephesians 4:23,
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)