Be Concerned!

Scripture: Nehemiah 1 

Focus verse: Nehemiah 1:2-4 - "Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem. They said to me, "Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire." When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven."

We live in a world full of many uncertainties, such as the rise in political tension, racial tensions, disease, hunger, lawlessness, hard economic living, loss of jobs, insecurity, abortions, divorce, separation and increase in deaths among other challenges. People live a life filled with fear and not sure of what tomorrow will bring and as these trends keeps on escalating, "there is a need to be concerned". There is a need not to be silent. Nehemiah is taken to exile where he gets employment as the king's cup bearer. He serves as a carrier man in the king's palace. His brothers come to Susa where he served the king and he asks them about the affairs of his people who remained in Jerusalem. He is told that the people who remained in Jerusalem have suffered great disgrace and the walls of Jerusalem had been brought down. 

This makes him be in agony for his people. He could have chosen to be quiet and enjoy at the king's palace but he didn't do so because he was concerned. His concern leads him to getting down in deep prayer and fasting for several days and he seeks God's intervention for his people. His concern made him to take a step to the king and asks for a chance to go and help rebuilt that which the enemy had brought down. He was so concerned that he accepted to take a leaf, collect resources and go to the suffering. He was concerned to the point of weeping, praying and fasting, because he felt the great love for his people in pain. He was concerned so that he felt like stopping his carrier job for a while for the sake of God's people. This is not a time to be silent, it's a time to be concerned. 

Believers should not be comfortable when things are not happening rightly. It's a time we need to show love and care for those going through challenges in our families, communities, churches, nation and around the world. It's a time to be concerned and share the Gospel (Good News of Jesus) with those who are hurting. It's a time to send prayers across the globe and give towards the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It's not a time to sit a merrily in your own job/profession or business. Christianity is founded on LOVE and love teachers us to reach to others in their point of need. It's a time Christians should wake up in deep prayer and fasting as did Nehemiah. We could hear of bad happenings around the globe but we still have a great God who is able to grant us the desires of our hearts. Remember God was concerned and that's why he sent his only begotten Son "so that whosoever believeth in Him will not perish but have everlasting life." Are you concerned enough for the aching world? Are you doing enough to reach to the world with Jesus love? Be a Nehemiah today!

Pastor Eliazar Wambo

Director of Bethesda Faith Ministries 

Director of Repairer Christian School

King of Kings and Lord of Lords

Scripture Reading: Revelation 19:11-16

Focus Verse: Revelation 19:16  “And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.”

Every country has it's leader, president, dictator or queen.  I’m sure many of you reading this devotion have learned by now that America now has a new president.  At noon on January 20th our new president was sworn into power.  At that moment power was transferred from one president to another.  Now the US military and all other branches of government answer to a new president.  It seems there are always some people who are not happy with a new president. In fact they don’t even like to hear his name said and they don’t want to submit under his authority. Their dislike doesn’t change the fact that he is now our president.

Our scripture today teaches us about our greater authority from heaven.  I have noticed that some people don’t want to hear the name of Jesus.  You talk with them about spiritual matters, and as soon as you mention the name of Jesus they want to walk away.  Maybe it’s because they know there is a judgment coming.  Or maybe it’s because they don’t want to submit to His authority.  Philippians 2:10 says, “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow.”  Everyone that has ever lived will one day submit to the authority of Jesus.  Just because someone doesn’t want to submit to Jesus that doesn’t change the fact of who He is.  You can submit today and live a joy filled peaceful life, or you can submit later after you die in a place called hell.  Jesus is coming back one day.  With all the things I see happening in the world today His return could be sooner rather than later.

No president or king whether good or bad gets into power without God allowing them that authority.  God is still in complete control over this world no matter the chaos that we see.  The first time Jesus came to this earth He came as a little baby born in a manger. When Jesus comes the second time He will come as “King of Kings and Lord of Lords” to rule the world.  Are you ready to meet Him?

 

~Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

 

Walking Step by Step

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 4: 7-18

Focus Verses: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18   Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

As we walk through this Christian life we understand that we will go through difficult times.  Most times we would like to see what is ahead for us, especially when difficult times are coming.  Sometimes we even face storms in life when are doing our best to be in a right relationship with the Lord.  You may have read the verse in Psalm 34:19 that says “many are the afflictions of the righteous”.  But sometimes we fail to read the rest of the verse that says “But the Lord delivers us from them all.” 

Today's scripture reading tells us to make a comparison between the temporary with the eternal.  The light afflictions we have here on earth compared to the glory of heaven,  and the seen to the unseen.  If we have the right perspective on life with God’s help we can endure any trial by taking it one step at a time.  The unseen of heaven one day we will see.  Then the trials of this world will just be a faded memory.  So take this journey with the Lord step by step and remember to look for the unseen eternal.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Victory Is Promised

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 43:14-21

Focus Verse: Isaiah 43:19  “For I am about to do something new.  See I have already begun!  Do you not see it?  I will make a pathway through the wilderness.  I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.”

This past year will be a year that none of us will forget.  As a matter of fact we have started 2021 with most of the same problems we had in 2020.  The Covid-19 virus has instilled fear and hardship in many people around the world.  And in the US we have endured some major problems besides the virus.  I normally go to Kenya four times a year for ministry.  But because of the virus it has now been a year since I’ve traveled to Kenya.  I am missing them and they are missing me.

Let me ask you a question.  Do you believe God is in control of this world?  Do you believe Almighty God can do anything?  Maybe God has us right where He wants us.  Do you remember the nation of Israel?  God led them up to the Red Sea.  Pharaoh’s army was behind them, and the mountains were all around them.  There was no way out.  They had to fully depend on God.  Are you at the point where you have to fully depend on God?  Maybe your children have not been in school for almost a year.  Maybe you have lost your job because of the virus, and you have nowhere else to turn.  That’s where the Children of Israel where.  God wanted to do something new and exciting for them.  He wanted to rescue them.  He wanted to save them.  And He did it in a way that only God could have done it.  He parted the Red Sea!  The waters stood up like a wall on two sides so that the nation of Israel walked through on dry land and escaped from their enemies.  

 

God showed a great love toward Israel and showed them that he will care for them.  God goes before us to prepare a place for us, as Gentiles.  We just need to follow Him.  Maybe God wants to do something new in your life.  If you’re still alive on this earth then God has a plan for your life.  And it’s not a plan to harm you, it’s a plan to give you a hope and a future.  Jesus said in John 16:33  “In this world you will have troubles, but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world.  God will never leave us or forsake us.  So don’t lose hope, because God might be getting you ready to so something new in your life.

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

Forward Focus

Forward Focus

by Pastor Greg Laurie

No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.

—Philippians 3:13

I don’t know about New Year’s resolutions, but I do believe in resolution, which means having resolve or determination to do something. Every one of us should have resolution in our lives. We need goals. We need objectives. And we need things to aim for in life.

After years of walking with God, the apostle Paul wrote, “No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us” (Philippians 3:13–14 NLT).

We need to realize that we have a long way to go spiritually. I wish you could have met me when I was 21 because I thought I had come so far. And in many ways, I had because only a few years before, I was living in complete darkness without God in my life.

But now I realize that I have so far to go. I have a lot to change. I hope you see that in yourself as well. And I hope we all realize that we are works in progress. We all need to be growing and deepening our walk with the Lord.

However, we cannot be controlled by past mistakes or live in past victories. So if you blew it last year, then learn from it and don’t do it again. Make changes in your behavior, your habit patterns, and your choices so you won’t go down that road again.

At the same time, if God did something wonderful in your life last year, don’t live in past victories. A whole new year is before you with many new opportunities. So press on toward what God has for you.

~Pastor Greg Laurie