King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and Friend of Friends

King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and Friend of Friends

Scripture Reading: Romans 5:1-11

Focus Verse: Romans 5:8  “But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”

My granddaughter, Aviya, was born on December 2nd.  Her name in Hebrew means "God is my Father.”  We know her birthday and plan to celebrate it when it comes around again. I don’t know exactly what day Jesus was born, but we like to celebrate His birth on December 25th.  I love the month of December leading up to Christmas.  We have special services at church.  We get a Christmas tree and put lights on it.  We put up the nativity display.  We sing the Christmas carols. These are all things we don’t forget.  In fact I can remember many things we did at Christmas time when I was just a little boy many years ago.

Christmas is special to me because when Jesus came to earth it was the most important event to ever happen in human history.  Have you wondered why Jesus would leave all the comforts of Heaven to come to earth?  It’s because He loves us and wants to be with us.  The God who created you, the whole universe and everything we see, loves you and wants to have a relationship with you. In fact, He desires to even be your best friend as you walk with Him.  He planned the way for it to happen because sin separates us from God. But God, in human form, came to this earth as a baby.  Because of mercy and grace, He came to die in our place for our sins so that we can choose to surrender to Him and inherit this forgiveness and have a relationship with Him.  

 

Jesus doesn’t just want to be one of your friends, He wants to be your best friend.  He will never leave you or forsake you.  He will be there for you in your good times, and when things are not going well.   Jesus said in John 15:14 “You are my friends if you do what I command.”  So if you’re not doing what Jesus says you should be doing, then maybe you can repent, trust Him and ask Him to help you walk with Him in obedience.  Let’s keep Jesus as our best friend. 

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

Jesus Came Near

 Jesus Came Near

Scripture Reading:  Luke 2

Focus Verse: Luke 2:11 “The Savior yes, the Messiah, the Lord has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!”

Luke 2 tells us how it came about that Jesus came and was born.  We can learn many events that happened around that event and it was like nothing that had ever happened before!  Some people think that God is "somewhere out there", but He is everywhere and He is here.  He came in the flesh as was planned from the beginning because of love. God wanted to give an opportunity for a restored relationship with Him and sent His "Only Begotten Son", to accomplish this.  Jesus came near.  It affected everyone from the lowly shepherds to the majestic wise men.  We rejoice!

 

Every year in December I set up a nativity scene in front of our home so it can be seen from the road when people pass by.  It has different figures such as the shepherds, wise men, and angel, Joseph and Mary, some sheep, a donkey, some chickens, and of course the Baby Jesus in the manger.  One year something unusual happened, someone stole the Baby Jesus.  They took Him right out of the manger.  It was just a plastic baby.  Can someone take Jesus from you?

 

Once you have been born again, nobody can really take Jesus away from you, not even Satan. We can’t lose Jesus, but sometimes people get so busy at Christmas time they lose sight of Jesus.  We need to keep Jesus in our thoughts, meditating on Him and praying with Him. One reason is that we may have opportunity to share the real meaning of Christmas with someone who needs to hear about Christ's love for us.  Jesus came to this earth because He loved us so much that He was willing to take the punishment for our sins and die for us.  So when God looks at us he no longer sees our sin, but He sees the righteousness of His Son Jesus.  Let us not forget that Christmas time is when Jesus came near.  He wants to live in your heart.  He wants to make you a new person.  Surrender to Him today if you never have.

*see the photo of the nativity.

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

 

Willing and Rejoicing

Bible Reading: Luke 1

Focus verse:  "Mary responded,“Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.    How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!  For he took notice of his lowly servant girl" Luke 1: 46-48a

Mary was betrothed to Joseph which means that there was a plan and a promise to be married.  I imagine that Mary had been planning of her wedding and the life that she would have as a wife of Joseph.  They had not yet married and she was a virgin, untouched by man, when Mary's life was interrupted.  It was not a small interruption but a major one.  Angel Gabriel came to Mary to tell her that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and that Mary would conceive and give birth to a son and name him Jesus.  He will be a holy Son and be called the Son of God.  

Mary could not understand how all this could happen, so the Angel explained that it would be through the power of the Most High.  He reminded Mary that even Elizabeth became pregnant in old age after she had been barren and that the word of God will never fail.  Mary responded with submission to the Lord as a servant and welcomed God's word into her life.  Then, after a visit with Elizabeth, she gave a great cry of praise to the Lord and rejoices in God her Savior.  She proclaimed God's holiness, mercy, might, provision and that He remembered Israel and His promise that Abraham and his children would be remembered with mercy.

When God brings a change in your life, you may be tempted to look at how your life was wrecked, your plans have changed, you have lost your dreams and your own path.  Or would we dare to submit to the Lord as Mary did, to recognize that we are a lowly servant and that God's change is a mercy and a blessing on us.  God isn't going to ask you to raise the Son of God, for that has already been done, but he may ask you to do something different than what you had planned.  It may not exalt you, but it may keep you humbled.  Mary didn't have it so good by earthly standards.  Mary got pregnant before marriage and it looked scandalous, she risked being stoned or divorce.  She gave birth in an animal shelter, she loved and raised Jesus and then watched him die the worst death a man could die, on the cross.  As a mother, she suffered, but as a servant, she was blessed.  She was willing and rejoicing in God.  Let us be humbly willing and rejoice in God as we accept the mercy and direction for our lives for His glory.

Page Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

The Time is Now

The Time is Now

Devotion by Greg Laurie

But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.

—Galatians 4:4–5

The birth of Jesus Christ divided human time. Rome had established control over much of the world at this point. The Pax Romana, a period of peace during the Roman Empire, was a time of brutal peace. The Romans cared most about two things: submission to Rome and a steady flow of wealth into Roman coffers.

But with the absence of war, many people were rediscovering art, literature, and philosophy, and they were asking questions. They were talking about human destiny and the meaning of life.

“When the right time came,” the Bible says, “God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children” (Galatians 4:4–5 NLT).

Caesar Augustus thought he was a powerful man, and he was, but he also was a pawn in the hand of God Almighty. That’s because history is His story. Thus, God moved Augustus to accomplish His purposes, reminding us that God is in control. He is sovereign over all nations and over all people.

The Bible says, “The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; he guides it wherever he pleases” (Proverbs 21:1 NLT). God can move the heart of a king, queen, prime minister, president, senator, congressman, or CEO. God will accomplish His purposes.

Augustus thought that by ordering a census, he would have greater control over the world. But in the end, all he did was run an errand for God.

The Lord needed Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem because Scripture prophesied, “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf” (Micah 5:2 NLT).

Joseph and Mary made the ninety-mile journey to Bethlehem for the census that Augustus decreed. We like to imagine scenes of Joseph and Mary silhouetted against a full moon on such a beautiful night. But the reality is that it was a very difficult and dangerous journey, especially for a woman in the ninth month of her pregnancy.

You would have hoped the hardships would have ended when they finally arrived in Bethlehem. But the Bible says, “There was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7 NKJV). This doesn’t vilify the innkeeper (if there was indeed an innkeeper); it simply presents him for who he was: a man who was preoccupied and busy. You would have thought he could have found it in his heart to make room for a woman who was ready to give birth at any moment. But he sent Joseph and Mary to a barn, or more likely a cave, where the Savior of the world was born.

There are people today who are just like this innkeeper. They don’t have any time in their lives for God. But we had better make room for Him. As the Christmas hymn “Joy to the World” reminds us, “Let every heart prepare Him room.” Make time for Him today.

 

https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/no-time-for-god/

He Was Born To Die

 He Was Born To Die

Scripture Reading:  Matthew 1:18-25

Focus Verse:  Matthew 1:21  “And she will have a Son, and you are to name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

It’s hard to believe but I am now a grandfather.  I have one granddaughter born about a year ago, and another granddaughter on the way, as well as a grandson on the way.  What a great blessing this is for our family.  When a new baby is born it’s a very happy time. It’s hard to think about the day they will die.  That’s just not something that we want to think about.

I’m sure that death was not something Joseph and Mary were thinking about the night baby Jesus was born.  But the main reason Jesus left the comforts of Heaven to come to the earth was to die.  His death was not a normal death, but an atoning death and a temporary one.  Atoning: The only way we could be saved from our sins is if someone died a sacrificial death in our place.  Only one person could die such a death.  Jesus was the only person qualified for such a death because He had never sinned.  He didn’t deserve to die for us but did so willingly.  John 3:16 says, “For this is how God loved the world, He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” 

 

Have you believed in Him?  Have you accepted this gift of salvation?  Jesus knew when He came from Heaven to earth He was coming to die.  Then he was alive three days later! So as we celebrate the birth of Jesus this Christmas season let’s not forget the love that God has for us that He would send His only Son to die for us so we can live eternally with our risen Savior in Heaven.

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

Human or Spirit Led?

 Scripture Reading: Galatians 5:13-26

Focus verse: "As for you, my friends, you were called to be free. But do not let this freedom become an excuse for letting your physical desires control you. Instead, let love make you serve one another." Galatians 5:13

Jesus called to me and I said, "Yes, Lord".  I began to follow Him and was set free from my sins.  He made me into a new creation, a new "me" that lives with His Spirit in me.  I found the fruits of the Holy Spirit nature coming into my life.  But sometimes, the human, selfish nature comes out in front and I fail.

In my freedom, I do not give excuses for following my own selfish desires.  I need to realize that my human nature will lie to me and so will the enemy.  My human nature will lead me astray and will not honor God.  My human nature will lead me to greed, anger, jealousy, selfish ambition, fighting, gossip and separation from other believers.  If I follow my human nature long enough, I can become blinded by it and fall deeper into sin.  I will blame others and make excuses for my decisions and actions.  I will not even see the pit that I am in, until suddenly, God makes it clear.

I need to decide every day to love God first.  This will give me what I need to love, forgive and serve others.  This is what the Spirit produces:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.  Is this what my life looks like?  You can not follow selfish human desires and the Spirit at the same time.

Every day is a good day to examine your life.  Do you see the fruits of human nature or the fruits of Spirit nature?  Commit to spend some time in prayer today about anything that you need to change in your life.  Ask God to show you how He sees your life.  Allow Him to change your heart so that you can change any actions that need to come under the Spirit's control.

~Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Showing Others Our Faith

Showing Others Our Faith

Scripture Reading: Matthew 8:28-34

Focus Verse: Matthew 8:28 “When Jesus arrived on the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gadarenes, two men who were possessed by demons met him. They came out of the tombs and were so violent that no one could go through that area.”

It may surprise you but Satan and his demons know more about God than many people do.  An atheist is someone who doesn’t believe in the existence of God.  Satan is not an atheist, he knows very well in the existence of God.  The two men in the scripture were possessed by demons and were so violent that no one could go through that area.  Their actions showed what was on the inside.

 

I can understand how violent a demon possessed person can be.  On my last trip to Kenya I had just preached a message in a church when a woman began acting very violent because of a demon inside her.  It took three men to control her, to keep her from injuring someone in the church.  We prayed that she would be delivered from this evil spirit.

 

The demons in our scripture reading also recognize that  Jesus is the Son of God in verse 29.  Satan and his demons do not trust in God, but they hate God and people created in God’s image.  James 2:19 says “You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.”  The demons acknowledge this is true, but don’t believe in it.  In a similar way, people can believe that God exists and that Jesus is the Son of God, but it has no effect on the way they live.  Why? Because they have never surrendered to receive Christ into their lives.  

 

James 2 also says in verses 20 and 26  “Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless? Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.”  Our actions show what is on the inside.  If we are going to tell everyone we have faith in God, then let our lives show it by the way we live.  A believer's life, surrendered, will be empowered by faith to live for Christ through good works.

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

Why Do Good Things Happen To Bad People?

Scripture Reading: Psalm 73

Focus Verses: Psalm 73:2-3  “But as for me, I almost lost my footing.  My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone.  For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness."

Why do good things happen to bad people?  A different question we sometimes ask is “why do bad things happen to good people?  Both of these situations seem to be an injustice, but yet we see both situations every day in our world. 

 

Let us answer the first question.  Psalm 73 was written by a man named Asaph.  In verses 4 and 5 he says "They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills”.  Sometimes we feel like Asaph did.  We see people with nicer or bigger homes than us.  We see people with more money than us, when all the time they are living godless lives.  But yet, we are tempted to envy them.  We wonder why God allows this to happen. Verse 16-17 says, “So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper.  But what a difficult task it is.  Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.”  The godless are headed for an eternity separated from God in a place called Hell.   All the riches accumulated here on earth will have no meaning in eternity.  We may not have everything we want on earth, but for those who have faith in Christ our eternity will lack nothing in Heaven. 

Let’s now try and answer the second question: “Why do bad things happen to good people?  The short answer is, there are no good people.  Romans 3:23 says “for all have sinned.”  Therefore, not one of us is good.  But sometimes we see bad things happen to people.  Maybe a baby gets a disease and dies.  We can't completely understand why things like that happen, but we must trust that God is sovereign and He knows what He is doing and has all things under His control.  Perhaps one day when we arrive in Heaven we will see more clearly and understand better why God allowed some of these things to happen. Meanwhile, we draw near to Him and trust that He is always with us through our life. Verse 26 says it well, "My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart: he is mine forever."

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

The Race to Finish

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Focus Verse: Hebrews 12:1  "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us."

Maybe you have noticed when you watch a race, some runners start out very fast.  But if it is a long race, those runners may become too tired to finish the race well.  Because they have not paced themselves, they either quit the race early or finish with a poor time.  Smart runners don't carry backpacks or luggage when they run.  No, they have just the clothes they need to wear and a good pair of running shoes.

The apostle Paul compares the Christian life to a race.  He says "let us run with endurance the race God has set before us."  As I work in ministry in Kenya, I know that all of Africa will not be saved through my own efforts,  but I do know that God will help me disciple some to follow Him.  Some of those will, in turn, also make new disciples.  This can branch out like a tree of runners. 

So we pace ourselves in this Christian life to do what God enables us to do.  Paul has also told us to take off the backpack of anything that slows us down, but especially sin so that we can run this race strong.  Ineffective Christians are carrying the luggage of sin or other weights on their backs.  Paul says strip it off, get rid of the things that weight you down.  In Philippians 3:14 Paul writes, "I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us."  He encourages us to finish the race strong.

When we come to the end of our life, let us be able to say as Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:7  "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful."  Are you a disciple ... running?

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Choices

Scripture Reading: Genesis 13

Focus Verse: Genesis 13:12  “So Abram settled in the land of Canaan, and Lot moved his tents to a place near Sodom and settled among the cities of the plain.”

We are faced with choices everyday.  Some are important choices and some don’t seem to be very important.  Abram gave Lot a choice of where to take his flocks and Lot chose the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley.  But this was also near the city of Sodom which was a very wicked city.  This was not a good choice for Lot because this wicked city dragged Lot and his family down spiritually. Why do you think Lot made his choice?

One of the greatest gifts God has given mankind is the ability to choose.  Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, were given this gift of choice by God.  And we see early in the book of Genesis they made the wrong choice and disobeyed God.  God could have forced mankind to obey Him but God knows that when we choose to obey and love Him then it is a true love.  What if I forced my wife and children to love me?  I don’t want to receive that kind of love.  I desire them to choose to love me so then I know it’s a true love.

Sometimes we make the wrong choice and some wrong choices are sin. If you or I had been the first man or woman in the Garden of Eden we would have made the same choice to sin against God.  We can, however, be thankful that God has a plan for our sin.  God’s only Son Jesus paid the penalty for our sin on the cross when He died.  But the power of God raised Jesus to life three days later, and has power over death and the grave.  Even though we can suffer consequences on earth for our sin, you can make a good choice to humble yourself, surrender and call on the name of Jesus today and ask forgiveness for your sin, and He will forgive you instantly.  You can start a relationship with God today through Jesus and the Holy Spirit can empower you to begin making right choices.

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

Nation Against Nation

Scripture Reading:  Matthew 24:1-14

Focus Verse:  Matthew 24: 7  “Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.  There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world.”

You may have heard in the news that Israel has been attacked, and Israel has declared war.  But these wars that happen between nations should not be a surprise to us because Jesus predicted this would happen in the last days.  Jesus also predicted famines and earthquakes.  We have seen many famines across Africa with thousands of people starving.  And earthquakes are happening with more frequency than ever before.  There are many signs happening that indicate we are living in the last days.

These signs should not strike fear in us.  We should be joyful, because these signs indicate that our Savior is coming soon.  So what should we do when we see all these signs happening?  We should continue to do what we (hopefully) have been doing, declaring the good news of the Gospel.  There are still many people and nations that need to hear the good news of the Gospel before it’s too late.  Jesus said in verse 14 “And the good news about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it, and then the end will come.”

Maybe you will be the person who tells the last person about the Gospel before Jesus returns. That would be exciting.  So let’s not be too distracted by all that is happening in the world, but looking to the Lord , keep our lives ready, and continue with the task of making disciples for Jesus, and spreading the good news of the Gospel.

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

Bread of Life

Bread of Life

Bible Reading: John 6:10-14; 24-27; 35

Focus Verse: John 6:35 "Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."

What is your definition of a miracle?  It is something that only God can do.  When God decides to make a miracle, he has a purpose.  In the scripture reading above, we read about how Jesus fed over 5,000 people by multiplying the food.  The people were happy to have been fed and followed Jesus.

The focus of this event isn't the food or that people were fed, but that Jesus was teaching something about Himself.  He wants us to hunger for Him and to seek Him first.
 
Be hungry, not because of the blessing of the food, but to understand the Giver. The good things in your life are not for the sole purpose of your enjoyment, but that our Lord has decided to reveal Himself to you.  Over the next few days, challenge yourself to pray that God will open your eyes to understand more about who He is.  He reveals Himself clearly in the Bible.

What are you learning lately?  Hunger for God and seek Him first.  He will leave you satisfied because He is the Bread of Life!


Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Can Anyone Be Saved?

Scripture Reading: Acts 26:9-18

Focus Verse: Acts 26:9  “I used to believe that I ought to do everything I could to oppose the very name of Jesus the Nazarene.”

I went to a conference recently and our speaker shared some of his testimony on how he came to Jesus.  He mentioned how he was involved in drugs, alcohol and sexual misconduct before his salvation.  As I listened I thought how unlikely it was that he would come to Jesus and be saved. 

 

All of us can probably think of someone that we know who is unlikely to become a Christian. Our scripture reading is about one of those people.  The apostle Paul was actually chasing down Jesus followers, putting Christians in jail, having them punished and voting for their death.  But then he had an encounter with Jesus as he was traveling on the road and that changed his life forever. Jesus appointed him to be His servant and witness so that people would turn from darkness to light.

You might say you don’t have a testimony of being saved from all kinds of rough sins like drugs, theft, and murder.  If you’re a born again Christian, it doesn't matter if you had big sins or small sins, you have a powerful testimony of how you came to Jesus.  Your testimony is not about "you", but it's about God's saving grace in your life.  There is someone out there who needs to hear your testimony of how you came to Jesus!  Who knows, but they may be the most unlikely to be saved.

 

  Lastly, I want to answer the question asked at the beginning of this devotion.  YES, anyone can be saved, but only through the grace of God through Jesus and a repentant heart toward God.

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

Respecting Poor Authority

Respecting Poor Authority

Scripture reading: 1 Samuel 24

Focus verse: 1 Samuel 24:5-6  " Now it happened afterward that David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe.  And he said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.”"
also: Ephesians 6:5 "Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ;"

David had been anointed by Samuel the priest to be the next king (1 Samuel 16).  He would rule after king Saul died.  David knew how to wait and patiently honored his king, his authority.  This was not always easy for him.  King Saul was often depressed and had a troubling spirit ever since he disobeyed God (1 Samuel 15).  Once, he threw a spear at David as he played music for the king. (1 Samuel 18:10-11) He even spent time hunting David down.  This is what was going on when we come to read 1 Samuel 24.

David could have easily killed Saul and become king, but he chose to cut off a piece of his robe.  Even this action caused David regret.  David knew the Lord would want him to have total respect for authority, even though the King was doing a poor job and even though the King was hunting him to kill him.

David's life is a good example of how we can obey and respect authority that we don't agree with or think is wrong.  I am not responsible for how our authority behaves, but I am responsible for how I react and respect that authority.  Pray that God will give you the grace and mercy to respect and obey the authority that has been placed over you.

Author's note: Realize that this is not talking about following a leader that prevents you from obeying God's commands or leads you into sin.  This does not include false prophets either. That is a different subject.  You might also like reading Romans 13 that relates to authority.

Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Beat by a Girl

 
Beat By a Girl

Bible Reading Judges 9:34-56
Memory verse: Matthew 23:12 "For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

Abimelech was the king.  He forced his way to the throne.  He and his hired men killed seventy brothers.  His plan worked and he was king.  He had a few good years until Gaal came into town saying bad things about Abimelech and his position.  Abimelech heard about it and it bothered him so much that he set out with four companies of men.  People were killed in the fighting and Gaal and his brothers fled the city.  The next day, the attack continued against the people in the city and many were killed.  Some people who were in the city fled into a tower.  Abimelech ordered his men to burn the tower and the people died.  The rampage continued to the next city of Thebez.  When they attacked, the people fled to the tower.  As Abimelech led the men to burn it, a woman dropped a millstone on Abimelech's head and cracked his skull.  Not wanting to be killed by a woman, he asked his armor-bearer to kill him. 

A lot of people died because of the selfishness of Abimelech and his ambition.  I never plotted to kill people in order to get to be king, but I know I have been selfish.  God doesn’t want us to selfishly knock people down in order to be at the top.  I remember when I was a kid, playing a game called “King of the mountain”.  We would have to try to be the one standing at the top of a hill of dirt.  It was just the right size mound that only one person could stand at the top.  If I ever was able to shove my way to the top, it wouldn’t last long because someone would shove me back.

Examine your life to see if you are shoving people around in order to be at the top.  Are you wanting to be a leader in your community or church?  If you talk bad about others in order to make yourself look better, is that right?  Abimelech got paid back for his crimes when a woman dropped the stone on him in self defense.  He was beat by a girl.  The Bible says that if you exalt yourself, you will be humbled.

by Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Building On The Rock

Scripture Reading: Matthew 7:24-29

Focus Verse: Matthew 7:24  “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.”

 

I love the ocean and the sand and the waves as well as fishing in the ocean.  We just got back from a family holiday at the beach.  This time when I explored the island, I noticed something unusual. Last year when we visited the beach there were big piles of sand in one area, and this year those piles of sand were gone.  The waves had washed it all away.  There’s another place I like to visit, and it’s a lake with mountains all around it.  And the shore line is rocky with very large rocks.  I’ve noticed that no matter how bad the storms get at that lake, those big rocks never move.  They stay right there securely.

If you were going to spend a lot of money and build a house, where would you build it?  On the sand or on the rock?  In our scripture reading, Jesus talked about a foolish man who built his house on the sand, and a wise man who built on the rock.  Notice that both of these men encountered a storm.  We will all face storms in life.  Only one house, the house on the rock, could stand against the storm. 

 

The foolish man is the man who puts all his hope and trust in the corruptible things of this world.  The wise man put his hope and trust in Jesus Christ and the things of eternal importance.  We all are building our lives on something, and that is the foundation of our lives.  1 Corinthians 3:11 “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have in Jesus Christ.”  Ask yourself, "What is the foundation of my life?  Where do I place my trust?" 

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

Living in the Light

Bible Reading: Ephesians 5:1-20

Focus verse: "For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!  For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true." Ephesians 5:8-9

This scripture is for those who are followers of Christ.  It tells us in our reading that we are to be like God in everything we do because we are His dear children.  Jesus Christ loved us, offered himself as a sacrifice for us and it was pleasing to the Father.  He lived a life of love and was our example.  We are not to live or talk in an obscene way with sexual immorality, impurity or greed.  We are not to worship or revere highly the things of this world or we become idolators. 

 Do you know those who are excusing sin?  Maybe they are saying that it isn't really a sin because of this or that.  Maybe they are saying that it is how God made them to be.  Maybe they are saying that it's natural and not really a big deal. Maybe they have said that God didn't really mean it in the scriptures the way that most people think.   That is the oldest lie in the book.  Remember how the serpent talked to Eve in Genesis 3 when he said, "Did God really say ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” and then continued with his twisted lies.  This is still done today.  Did God really say this was wrong?  Maybe not this time or maybe not for me.  Lies and deception are upon us quickly.

There's a warning to be cautious of those who may try to fool you with excuses for their sins, but don't fall for it and participate in these deeds of darkness.  There is a light inside you that is of the Lord.  Be careful to determine what pleases the Lord and do those things.  Expose the deeds of darkness and their evil intentions will be seen when light shines on them.

Live in the Light and follow the example of Christ.

Page Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

Made Different Within a Minute

Made Different Within a Minute

Scripture: Mark 5:25-33
Focus verse Mark 5:28-29 – "because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering."

 The story of the woman with bleeding disease not only tells about the power of Jesus to heal diseases  but also how a minute spent with Jesus can change one’s life. The woman had spent all her time and money looking for solutions to her problem but all ended in vain. She decides to touch the cloak of Jesus and instantly He heals of her bleeding disease. Her life turns around instantly as she notices that blood has stopped and that she is not bleeding anymore. The minute she spent with the Lord changed her health condition.

How many times do we desire to see a change in our lives or our situations? We want to grow in the Lord but we don’t want to spend even a minute with Him. We at times become so busy looking for solutions yet God has offered a solution, Jesus Christ the Son God to us. Every minute spent with Jesus doesn’t leave our lives the same way. We may not see him physically or touch him physically as the woman did but there are other ways we can touch today. Reading His word (The Bible) and praying to Him are sure ways of getting connected to God. How often do we spend time in prayer and reading the word of God? Every minute spent in prayer or reading God’s word doesn’t leave one the same. We need to have the attitude that says, “if only I can spend some little time praying and reading the word of God, my life will never remain the same.” 

David says in Psalm 84:10 – "Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked." Faithful service to God does not leave our lives the same no matter how small the service may look. We don't spend a whole day working in the church in order to be called servants of God but the little time faithfully spent together with God can create a very big difference in our lives. 

God bless you,

Pastor/Director Eliazar Wambo, 

Bethesda Faith Ministries & Makira Baptist Church

Preaching Through a Misfortune

Preaching Through a Misfortune

Scripture reading Acts 28:1-10
Focus verse: Acts 28:3-6 - "Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live.” But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happened to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god."

Did you ever become a topic of discussion because of your misfortune? It’s true, people will always try to find a reason to explain why you are going through such misfortunes. You may be accused falsely when you pass through some troubles of life. Paul gets bitten by a very dangerous viper snake which fastened itself on his hand and hung on it. The people observe this and branded him a murderer who is getting justice for his killings. But Paul instead of arguing with them, shook the snake into the fire. They wait to see him swell up or fall dead but their waiting goes in vain. When the waiting went beyond, they changed their minds and called Paul a god. 

Paul knew that whatever accusations put on him were wrong, and that he had done nothing wrong to deserve such punishment. He knew that the snake bite was nothing to do with his character so He didn’t waste time arguing with them but looked upon God to do His will. God showed himself through this tragedy by not allowing Paul to swell or die. Later, after the people had waited for long and nothing was happening to Paul, they changed their language and called Paul a god! This incident later gave Paul the opportunity to preach to the gospel and heal their sick. God used the snake bite to introduce Paul to the island of Malta. Sometimes our misfortunes are God’s planned platforms for His gospel to be preached through us.

John 9:3 – “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.” God is always at work in our lives even when the worst happens to us. He does cause or plan evil to our lives but can allow evil upon our lives and work through it for our good.  He allowed Joseph’s brothers to plot evil against his life but later worked through that evil to save the same brothers and their father. Genesis 50:20-21 – You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children. And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. 

God bless you,

Pastor/Director Eliazar Wambo, 

Bethesda Faith Ministries & Makira Baptist Church

Called into Storms

Scripture reading: Matthew 14:22-36
Focus verse: Matthew 14:28-29 “Lord, if it is you, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” He said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 

The phrase, “out of the frying pan into the fire can best describe the situation with Peter.” Peter and the other disciples are getting tossed by the strong opposing winds as they get to cross over to the other side of the lake. From late evening to early dawn the boat is buffeted with strong winds and they all get terrified. Jesus comes to them walking on the same opposing storms and this even terrifies some of the disciples. Peter observes this and asks Jesus to command him to come to Him. Jesus permitted him and he began to walk over the stormy and terrifying wind towards Jesus. This he does for some distance before he gets afraid and begins to sink.

It would be right to say that by logic, it was a little safer for Peter to stay in the boat than to jump out into the raging waters. Jesus did not call Peter to a calm lake but to a stormy and life threatening storm, neither did he calm the lake first before He commanded Peter to come. He called him into the storms! Believers need to understand that Jesus has not called us to a life of calmness. We must be ready to face storms of life as we move towards Jesus. There will be sicknesses, rejections, persecutions, pain, death, marital challenges among other storms. We must prepare our mind with the same attitude and be ready to face life storms. Some storms may be worse than before but our motivation is that Jesus is right with us in that storm. He didn’t call Peter and leave Peter on the storm alone, He was right there with Him. We may fail as we walk on the storms but let’s be consoled that He is there to restore us when we fail.  

Paul’s words to the church as recorded in Ephesians 6:13 – "Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." Paul prepares the believers that there are days of evil ahead and so they should not be lazy but get ready for it. The days of evil may come like a thief, when you don’t know so you must get ready all the time. Peter would later tell the church to consider it pure joy when they face many trials since through the trials our faith produces perseverance which makes a believer to be mature and complete and not lacking in anything – 1 Peter 1:2-4. 

God bless you,

Pastor/Director Eliazar Wambo, 

Bethesda Faith Ministries & Makira Baptist Church

Portrayal of God’s Grace

Scripture Reading:  Genesis 43:19-34

Focus Verses: Genesis 43:33-34  "Joseph told each of his brothers where to sit, and to their amazement, he seated them according to age, from oldest to youngest. And Joseph filled their plates with food from his own table, giving Benjamin five times as much as he gave the others. So they feasted and drank freely with him."

You probably know the story of Joseph well.  He was a young man who was hated by his brothers because they were jealous of him.  So they planned to kill Joseph, but then decided to sell him as a slave to some travelers headed to Egypt.  Once Joseph got to Egypt he was hired for a job in the house of Potiphar.  Potiphar’s wife had lust for Joseph and accused Joseph of rape even though he did nothing wrong.  So then he spent years in prison for something he didn’t do.  But God was with Joseph, and God was working out His plan in Joseph’s life.  

Twenty years after Joseph was sold by his brothers he was second in command in all the land of Egypt under Pharaoh.  There was a great famine in all the land and Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt for food.  Now Joseph was in charge of all the food.  How do you think Joseph would treat his brothers after the way they treated him?  He treated them kindly, he even gave them grain free of charge.  Then he prepared a big feast for his brothers at his home.  And at this point the brothers still did not know this was Joseph, the brother they sold into slavery many years before.  Joseph loved his brothers in spite of what they did to him.

Joseph’s life is a great example of how Jesus came to our rescue.  Joseph had the power to have his brothers killed, but instead he extended incredible generosity and mercy.  Instead of blaming them, he forgave them.  instead of being punished they were seated at his table for a feast.

This is a beautiful picture of what Christ did for us at the cross.  He took all our sins and forgave them all.  Isaiah 30:18 says, “Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you.”  Do you long for Him?  He longs to be gracious to you.  That’s great news.  These brothers deserved none of this.  What God is offering to us in His Son Jesus, we deserve none of it.  But it is a gift.  And like any gift, if we want to enjoy it we must receive it.

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries