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