Don’t Be Afraid

Scripture Reading: Luke 2:8-20

Focus Verse: Luke 2:10  “Then the angel said to them, do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.”

Today is Christmas Eve, and we will soon be saying goodby to 2020.  Can you remember one year ago during this time?  We had no idea what was ahead for us in 2020.  For many people around the world 2020 has been a year filled with fear and uncertainty.  Jobs have been lost, loved ones have been lost, hope has been lost, dreams have been lost and all due to a world wide pandemic that no one saw coming.  The world was taken by surprise.

The shepherds who lived in Israel also lived during a frightening time.  They lived under the rule of King Herod who would sometimes kill people for what seemed like no reason at all.  The shepherds also lived in a land where the Romans took control.  They were not free to live as they wanted and wondered if the Romans would ever leave.  In the midst of living under harsh rulers, an angel brought a message to the shepherds one night.  The angel said, “Don’t be afraid.  The Messiah has come.”  

 

There are many things that could bring fear into our lives today.  You may wonder, "Will I get the Coronavirus?"  "Will I lose my job?"  "How will I take care of my family?"  and the list of things to fear can go on?  A lot of things are a concern to us, but the Christmas message is the same for us today as it was for the shepherds 2000 years ago.  “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.” Luke 2:10   Jesus came to bring peace on earth.  God is in complete control of everything that is happening on this earth and we don't always understand His ways.  He has not forgotten you.  He knows what is of concern to you. Maybe this Christmas you can give God your fears and let Jesus fill you with the peace of knowing that God’s got it under control.  

Merry Christmas and may you have a blessed New Year!

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

The Christmas Gift

Scripture:  Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Focus Verse:  John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

We like to give gifts to those that we love at Christmas time.  We also like to get gifts at Christmas time.  Sometimes we like the gift and sometimes we may not like a gift that was given to us.  We use the gift for a short time and it breaks or wears out.  Maybe you have wondered where the tradition came from of giving gifts at Christmas time.  

 

We read in Matthew chapter two that wise men came to worship Jesus and brought Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.  Could it be that this is where the tradition came from?  Perhaps, but it's also likely the tradition came from the Gift that God gave.  God gave His only Son as a Gift to the whole world.  This Gift was offered to every person who has ever lived and ever will live.  If God had never given this Gift of Jesus we would have no hope.  Romans 6:23 says “we deserve death for our sins.”  Not just death when they put our bodies in the ground, but death for all eternity.  Jesus came that we might not die spiritually, but that we might live forever with Him in heaven.  

 

Sadly there are many people that don’t know about this Gift or they have rejected accepting God's Gift.  If you never have accepted this free gift of Jesus why not receive Him this Christmas.  He wants to forgive your sins, be your savior, King and friend forever.  We can also look forward to being in heaven with Him forever.

 

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

 

Home for Christmas

Scripture Reading:  Luke 2:8-20

Focus Verse: Luke 2:11-12   “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be a sign to you, you will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

Around Christmas time there is a lot of talk about going home for Christmas.  Christmas time is one of the most traveled times of the year.  People travel by airplane, by train, by car, by motor bike or by foot.  We all like to be home with family for Christmas.

Jesus had a very nice home in Heaven, but He was willing to come to this earth and be born in a dirty stable with animals all around. A cold and damp animal stable is not a very nice place to make your home.  What an amazing sacrifice Jesus made for us when he came. Jesus was born here so that we could be born again!  He was willing to make His home among us.  Why would Jesus do this?  He did this because He knew that He must pay the sacrifice for our sin. He came in such a humble way because He loves us so much.  Christmas is all about love. God loved us so much that He sent His Son (John 3:16).  

 

When you confess your sins, accept His forgiveness, repent and invite Christ to rule your life He cleans you up and makes His home inside of you.  It’s not something we can do on our own. Jesus took away my sin and as a result I want to keep my life clean so Jesus has a nice place to live.  Obedience is the best way for me to show my love for Jesus.  If you have never done this, maybe this Christmas you will invite Jesus to come and make His home in your life.  It will be the best decision you could ever make.  We can live our lives as disciples here on earth and then one day we will live with Jesus in His home in Heaven forever.

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

The Choice to Rejoice

 Pastor Greg Laurie writes the booklet we use in Kenya called “New Believers Growth Booklet”.  We would like to share a devotion with you written by him.

The Choice To Rejoice

Scripture Reading: Romans 5:1-5

Focus Verse: Romans 5:3-4  “We also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance, and perseverance, character, and character, hope.

Everywhere the apostle Paul went, there was either a riot or a revival. Paul never had a boring day in his life that we know of. There was always something going on with him.

Yet Paul didn’t merely endure these experiences but rejoiced in them. He wrote, “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation” (Romans 5:3–4 NLT).

Paul was describing the kind of trials in which there’s nothing we can do to make them go away. But when Paul went through those hardships, he made the choice to rejoice. And we have that same choice before us.

I can’t control what happens around me, try as I may. But I can control how I react. When difficulties come my way, when things that seem unfair happen to me, when I’m going through a time of hardship, I can choose to be better or bitter.

Some people choose the latter. They’re bitter. They’re mad at God, mad at the world, and mad at their family. They’re mad at everything.

However, others say, “Lord, I don’t know why you’ve allowed this, and I wish you wouldn’t allow it. But I want to be better. I want to learn through this.”

Some trials that come into our lives are short-lived. But others don’t go away, and there’s no way around them. So what should we do?

We need to put our hope in God.

Remember, Paul said, “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.” Maybe you don’t understand it at the moment, but there’s a reason for what you’re going through. God is working through it. And He never will let you down.

Pastor Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries

Be Thankful and Bless God's Name

Read Psalm 100 

"1 Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!
² Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
³ Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

⁴ Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
⁵ For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.

 When I was a young girl, I memorized this Bible passage.  I loved how happy it made me feel.  I rejoiced over how God is good, merciful, truthful, our creator, and our shepherd.  I am thankful and joyful for the benefit of knowing Him.

Take some time to be thankful today for the Lord.  He provides a pasture for you.  Dwell there with Him and SHOUT with joy and thanksgiving.

"What if you wake up tomorrow with only the things you thanked God for yesterday." ~unknown

~Page Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

Jesus’ Authority Questioned

Scripture Reading: Mark 11:27-33

Focus Verse: Mark 11:28  “And they said to Him, By what authority are You doing these things?  And who gave You this authority to do these things?”

Our scripture reading is about the religious leaders of Jesus’ day questioning His authority for what He is doing.  We each must decide if we believe what God says in the scriptures is truth.  In the end, the priests and elders were more afraid of what the people would do than what Jesus would do.  Because of this choice, Jesus refused to answer their questions.

 

I learned this week that a man with whom I had shared Jesus many times, died a few months ago.  He was a very religious man, but to the best of my knowledge he never accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord in his life.  On one occasion as I was talking with him I quoted to him John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”  He then said to me “Bobby that’s where you and I differ.”  I felt like replying "that’s where you and Jesus differ.”  

 

The religious leaders of Jesus’ day did not believe He was the only way to God either.  One day when you stand before God He’s not going to ask you what church you belonged to.  He’s not going to ask you how much money you gave to the poor.  (Even though these things are important.)  What if God was going to ask you "who is Jesus to you?"  Well, there is only one answer that will get you into heaven, "Jesus is my Savior and Lord."  There are many people in the world today who believe they are going to get to heaven because of what they are doing, but they are wrong.  They will only get to heaven because of what Jesus did.  He died on that cross for our sin, and until you accept that free gift you will never see heaven.  

 

John 3:3 “Jesus answered and said to him, Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”  Will you accept God’s great gift today, and invite Jesus into your life as Savior and Lord?  If you have done this, you should be telling others about this wonderful gift.

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

The Battle is The Lord's

The Battle is The Lord's

Scripture: 1 Samuel 17

Focus verse: 1 Samuel 17:47, "Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands."

The Israelites had a thorn in their flesh and they really didn't know if someday they would get delivered from hands of the oppressing Philistines. Their King, Soul had given up in fighting the Philistines. The Philistine fighter, Goliath, was a gigantic man with great experience in fighting. He was a feared man. Nobody dared face him and he would insult the Israelites each day. Above that he would openly defy the name of the Almighty God. This angered a young boy called David and he asks for the chance to fight Goliath. His brothers and king Saul himself discouraged him and tried to deny him from entering the fight but he didn't listen to their discouragements but decides he would fight Goliath. King Saul gives him his fighting regalia, he tries them and takes them out since he was not used to such fighting regalia. He knew that the same God who had led him to killing a bear and a lion who had attacked his father's flock would give him victory again over the uncircumcised Philistines. He knew that the battle was God's and He would give Goliath into his hands. God answered his prayers and the Israelites were free once again.

There is a lot of fear in the world today. We wake up to bad news of infectious diseases, deaths, political unrest, cyclones, collapsing economy, loss of jobs among other uncertainties. Many people don't understand what life has for them and can't tell when all these will end. Well, we may have lots of challenges but we can still have a hope knowing that the battle is the Lord's and he will bring us victory. It may seem like it's getting late but be sure God already has a solution. His solution may not look wise before men but He is God and he doesn't fight the way men fight. David was discouraged by his own brothers and even the king himself but he listened to God more than those discouraging him. 

 

If you want to win you will need to stop paying attention to the discouraging forces but listen to God's voice who can make a way where there seems to be no way. The battle is the Lord's and not even a pandemic is too hard for him to handle. 

 

Pastor Eliazar Wambo

Director Bethesda Faith Ministries, Kenya

How’s Your Conscience?

Scripture Reading:  1 Timothy 4

Focus Verses:  1 Timothy 4:1-2 “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron.”

Something I have noticed in my 60 years of living on this earth is that some people seem to have no shame when they do something wrong.  Things that used to be shameful are now celebrated. Things that used to be right are now wrong, and things that used to be wrong are now called right.  The Bible has a verse that talks about that in Isaiah 5:20 “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil, who put darkness for light, and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter.”  

 

God doesn’t change.  God’s Word has not changed.  The Bible still calls sin, sin.  Thousands of years ago the Bible said it is wrong to steal.  Guess what, today it is still wrong to steal, lie, murder and have other gods or idols.   There are people who sin and have no shame.  They will call it another word to make it sound nicer.  Will it be nicer in the eyes of the wife if you call adultery an affair?   Is it easier to accept lust if you call it pornography?  Is it easier to accept killing an unborn child if you call it an abortion or a choice?  Is it easier to accept a bribe if you call it exchanging favors?  We are becoming a society that is loosing its conscience.  Your conscience is the God given ability to discern right from wrong.  Your conscience is the Holy Spirit telling you the right way to go.  But if you continually refuse to listen to your conscience, the Holy Spirit may quit speaking to you.  And that would be a dangerous place to be. 

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

Who Are You Connected To?

 Scripture Reading: John 15:1-8

Focus Verse: John 15:5  “I am the vine, you are the branches.  He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit, for without Me you can do nothing.”

In America the news is currently dominated with information about the presidential election that will happen on November 3rd.  Each candidate tells you how good they are and what they are going to do for you.  You can be sure that some of what you hear is truth and some are lies.  Some people put all their hopes and dreams into a politician.  They think if their person gets into office all their problems will go away.  I can tell you that no politician can make all your problems go away.  If someone puts all their hopes in a politician, they have connected themselves to the wrong person.  The true hope is placed in the person of Jesus.

Jesus says in John 10:10 “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”  Jesus also said in John 15:5 “without Me you can do nothing.”  Jesus is the person you want to be connected to.  He loves you.  He wants to care for you.  He wants what is good for you.  He wants to take away all your sin.  And He’s prepared a place for you where you can be with Him forever.  No matter what happens in this world, I place my hope in Jesus.  I’m going to stay connected to Jesus.  Who are you connected to?

 

Psalm 20:7 says, "Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
    but we trust in the name of the Lord our God."

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

The Power to Say, "No".

Scripture Reading: Esther 1:3-19

Focus Verse: Esther 1:12 "But when they conveyed the king's order to Queen Vashti, she refused to come.  This made the king furious, and he burned with anger."

Vashti was queen of Persia and the wife of King Xerxes.  He reigned the territory from India to Ethiopia.  The king gave a great party with many guests.  As everyone became drunk he ordered his wife, Vashti, to come and dance before the guests.  She sent word back to the king that she would not dance.  Even though it meant she could lose her life or lose every luxury that she enjoyed as queen.  She said, "no.  She would not expose her body and degrade herself. 

One hundred years ago a young man converted to Christ.  He became a pastor and took missions to the poor and oppressed in the slums of London.  Many times he would preach on street corners.  He became an embarrassment to the well known pastors of the city.  When he was called before a conference of the religious leaders, they said.  "William Booth, will you go where we tell you to go?  If not, we will strip you of your pastorate."  His wife, Catherine stood and said, "William, say, 'No, never!'"  His courage to say no that day, changed the history of Great Britain and many other parts of the world.  William Booth was the founder of The Salvation Army that has helped millions of people around the world.

It is right to obey our leaders according to God's Word, but if the obedience will cause you to sin, you must resist.   If you ever feel pressured to conform to others' prideful or sinful plans, it may seem too difficult to resist.  If it is not God's plan, you should resist them. You don't have to resist in your own strength, because with God's help you can have the power to say "No".

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Knowledge of God Doesn’t Get You Into Heaven

Scripture Reading:  Acts 4:5-12

Focus Verses: Acts 4:11-12  "For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’  There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

I had the distinct privilege this week to hear United States of America President Donald Trump give a speech in person.  As he spoke there was something that caught my attention.  Someone told President Trump “your the most famous person in the world” and Trump's response was “no I’m not, I’m not even close”.  The person then asked "Well who is more famous?"  President Trump then said, “Jesus Christ”.  I don’t know if our President is truly saved.  He does acknowledge Jesus as a great person.  I pray that he is a saved person who submits to God.

How can we know who is getting into heaven?  I think we will be surprised one day to realize that there will be people in Hell that some would say were good people, but they never acknowledged their sins to God.  And also there will be people in Heaven who lived sinful lives but they repented of their sins to follow Christ. The Bible says that all people have sinned. Maybe you have done good things.  I have done good things. Being good doesn’t get us to heaven. Because you have to be perfect to get to Heaven, and none of us are perfect, we have all sinned.  That’s why Jesus came to die on the cross to take our punishment.  John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus not only saves us, but we make Him Lord of our life.  We have the righteousness of Christ.  When we accept God’s free gift of salvation we are saved.  So when God looks at us, He no longer sees our sin He sees His Son Jesus, and we are welcomed into Heaven.

 

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

Jesus Never Changes

 Jesus Never Changes

Scripture Reading:  Hebrews 13:7-17

Focus Verse: Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

During this time of year in America, October and November, the seasons are changing. The temperature changes from warm to cool. As winter approaches and the daylight hours are shortened the leaves on the trees change from green to many different colors.  Some leaves change to orange, red, or yellow.  Then the leaves drop off the trees for the winter.  Sometimes we can have friends that act like the leaves on the trees.  One day they are nice and friendly to you, then the next day they have betrayed you.  It seems as if they changed overnight.

I am glad we can have a friend in Jesus that never changes.  He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  Sometimes we change in our relationship towards Jesus, but Jesus still never changes.  He is someone that you can always count on to be there for you.  All your other friends may leave you, but Jesus never will.  We have seen a lot of changes in this world over the past few months with Covid19 pandemic causing so many problems.  But God is still in control. He has not changed. He will never change.  This can bring great peace into our lives during times of so much unrest.  What Jesus thinks about you will never change.  He’s a friend that sticks closer than a brother.

 

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

Why Do We Have Adversity?

Scripture Reading: Psalm 73

Focus Verse: Psalm 73:28  “My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart, he is mine forever.”

Covid19, the novel coronavirus is still going around the earth.  Humanity is seeking their joy in the wrong places that make their happiness to be temporary.  Pain of illness, loss and disappointment have touched us.  We can't seem to trust our governments.  Life has it's many trials for the saved and the unsaved.  The Born-Again never have to face trials alone because the Holy Spirit ministers to them throughout their lives and will not leave them.  If we are blessed, we also have the Body of Christ in our neighbors and churches to come along side of us as well.

So, why do we face adversity in this life?  I don’t fully know, but the Bible has a lot to say about our troubles.  First of all Jesus promised us in John 16:33 “in this life you will have many trials and sorrows.”  I can testify that is true. Although I’ve not had as many as some people, I've had my share.   James 1:2 tells us “when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.  For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.”  God does not really speak to us out loud today, but He can speak to us through our trials.  

When we are suffering He knows we are paying attention.  So if you are going through a storm, be on the lookout because God is up to something in your life.  He as well has promised to help you through it.  John 16:33b Jesus said “take heart, because I have overcome the world.”  Jesus suffered greatly on the cross.  It was for the purpose of saving all of mankind.  Maybe one day when we reach heaven we will look back at our time on earth and see the trials we went through, and be able to see how God was working His purpose in our lives.  

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

God Never Leaves You

Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 31:1-8

Focus Verse Deuteronomy 31:6  "Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you, He will never leave you nor forsake you."

I have noticed as I go through life that I have friendships and relationships of different levels with people.  Some close friends and some distant friends.   This has never been more true than during the time of pandemic.  If you are to meet with a friend or care for a friend, this is going to take more effort now.  Sometimes we may feel lonely because we don't put forth an effort to be a friend to others.  There is a friend who will never leave you.  The very best friend is God.

Relationships are made stronger by the time and effort we put into the relationship.  God wants us to put time and effort into our relationship with Him.  As a result, He said that He would never leave us.  Even though we may do things that displease Him, He still will never leave us.  Just as a wayward child that displeases his parents, he is still their child.  We can never do anything that would make God turn His back on us and quit loving us.  He also loves us so much that we can't do more good to make Him love us more.  What a great comfort for us as God's children in knowing that Hebrews 13:5 will always be true.  "Never will I leave you, Never will I forsake you."

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Overwhelming Obstacles

by Greg Laurie, Harvest Ministries

Bible Reading Joshua 6

Focus Verse: Joshua 6:1-2 "Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.  Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men."

Have you ever faced what seemed like an insurmountable obstacle, something that was so big and so overwhelming that you wished you just could turn and run away? Maybe you’re facing something like that right now: an incurable illness, a prodigal child, or a marriage that is unraveling. Maybe you think it will never get fixed. If you have ever faced something like this, you have a general idea of how the nation of Israel felt as they stood before the massive, ancient city of Jericho, the city God said they were supposed to conquer. His battle plan was one of the most unorthodox ever envisioned in human history. They were to march around the city once for six days, and on the seventh day, they were to march around it seven times, blow trumpets, and shout. It was a plan designed by God to show His power. Sometimes God will allow a Jericho in our lives, something big and scary. It might be a problem. It might be a challenge. It might even be an opportunity. But all you know is that it’s massive, and there is no way you can deal with it in your own strength. For many, the greatest difficulty is getting to the place where they are willing to admit they need God. It’s that place where they are willing to admit the thing they’re facing is too big for them and that if God doesn’t come through, then they won’t get through it. That is not a bad place to be. God has a plan for you, but He won’t force His plan in your life. You can botch or sabotage the plan, or you can cooperate with the plan. That is up to you. God will not force His purpose in your life.

"When you get to the end of yourself, you get to the beginning of God."

by Greg Laurie, Harvest Ministries

 

Seeing The Invisible

 

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Focus Verse: 2 Corinthians 4:17   “For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them all, and will last forever.”

God has put inside us a desire and a motivation for something more.  A sense that there is something more to life than what we are seeing.  Many people search their whole life looking for something.  They may not even realize what they are seeking.  They follow all kinds of paths as they search: alcohol, drugs, sex, making money, and the list goes on.  They will even switch from one thing to the next, thinking this next thing will bring them happiness.  

 

No matter what experiences you have had, good or bad, it’s good to remember that the best is still to come for the believer in Christ.  The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 3:11  “God has put eternity in our hearts.”  God has put a desire and a sense that there is more to life and this motivates us to keep moving on towards Him.  Just as God has given birds a homing instinct to migrate to different parts of the world during different seasons, God has put a desire for a place we have not seen yet, and that place is Heaven, where God lives.  

 

Many people are going through very difficult times right now. What struggles do you have?  The apostle Paul says these troubles will not last very long, but they are getting us ready for eternity in Heaven.  So don’t let the troubles that you see today discourage you, but knowing that God walks with us, let’s look forward to the future that we can’t see.  Praise God that the good things He has planned for us in Heaven will last forever!  As a Christian we have a hope of a place that is too wonderful to describe.  By faith we are able to see the invisible.

 

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

What Do We Say When We Come Back?

Bible Reading: Luke 15:17-21

Focus verse: John 1:8-10 “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives”

The reading in Luke talks about a son who after living a wasted life, a life of sin and separation; he realized that it was time for him to go back to the father.  He is reminded of the good social life he used to live while with the father and he now carefully plans how he would win back the heart (love) of the father. He identifies that his sins have separated him from the father and is not worth to be called a son. He as well knew that he had no authority to reinstate himself, only the father could make him as one of his again. All he had to do was to accept his sin and ask for forgiveness.

We all at one time have wronged our friends, our bosses, our families, our spouses or people we really love and cherish. We have made them be broken in the hearts so that they could not find peace. We’ve made some of them to regret if surely they made right choices to have us as friends or spouses. Some have lived with the pain and agony we have caused then so that anytime they are reminded about the pain/scars we caused them, they still weep bitterly. To some, the pain is today completely healed while to others it has remained a fresh sore/pain always. Why? The difference lies on what we said when we came back to them, whether we said the truth/confessed and asked for forgiveness or denied/lied further and remained with the guilt. The Bible says “Truth sets us free”.

Equally we have all sinned against God. All sins whether one or hundreds is enough to separate us from God. He is not happy when we are separated from him and wants us back all the times. Many desire to come back when they realize they are far from Him. We should remember that it is what we say when we come back that unites us back to Him. Many people come back but still live under the guilt of the sins committed because they did not truly confess to Him and repent. They want to falsely justify their own mistakes. God is not pleased when we walk under the guilt of sins that separated us from him. It’s not coming back to the church or Christian family or walking with Christian friends that tell we have come back to God. The major concern is whether we confess to have sinned and ask forgiveness when we come back. Unless we do that, we still live under separation and the guilt of our sin.

Our repentance can set us free and bring healing to the hearts of our friend or loved one that we have made to suffer. Our marriages and broken relationships with friends can blossom again if we accept to confess our wrong doings and ask God to reestablish us again. Do we have friends who are living with scars/pain because of our wrong doings?  Are we responsible for the regrets in the lives of our loved ones? Only a statement of “forgive me for all the wrongs I did to you” is enough to help them heal.

Eliazar Wambo
Bethesda Faith Ministries and
Repairer Christian School

The Unstoppable Church of Christ

Scripture Reading:  Matthew 5:11-16

Focus Verse: Matthew 5:14  “You are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.”

The year 2020 has been a very difficult year for so many people around the world.  The pandemic has brought about many hardships.  Since we have never seen a pandemic like this in our lifetime, people and governments around the world are unsure of how to handle this problem.  But this virus did not catch God by surprise.  God knew this virus was coming long ago, and we have seen how God is using this virus to accomplish His purposes.  Jesus said His Church is a light to the world and that light is set on a hill and will not be hidden.

I am reminded of the "light on a hill" when I go to the ocean.  I remember a very tall and thin house with a strong bright light on the top.  It is called a “lighthouse”.  When there are storms out in the ocean the lighthouse will guide the ships and boats safely into the harbor without running aground.  

 

We are in the middle of the storm with this pandemic.  Let us look to The Light of the world.  The Church of Christ is unstoppable.  This pandemic will not stop God's Word from going forth. Sometimes the future doesn’t look very bright.  Right now our culture seems very dark spiritually. As believers we are called to live in this ungodly world, and sometimes we are tempted to give up and quit fighting against the forces of evil that are around us.  We wonder how can we effectively share the good news of the Gospel that Jesus called us to proclaim?  Let’s never forget that Jesus gave us a command to impact this world as both salt and light as His ambassadors.  So how can we do that?  The answer lies in where our power comes from.  Our power comes from The One who created the universe and He cares about us deeply.  We can’t do this in our own power, but we tap into our God who has limitless power.  God will give His church all the power and resources necessary to complete His purpose and plan.  So align yourself with God’s unstoppable church today where we can receive unlimited power, so that nothing can stop us from completing the plan He has for us.

 

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries