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
Friday, August 31, 2018
Friday, August 24, 2018
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
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
Friday, August 10, 2018
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
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
Friday, August 3, 2018
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
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)