Running From God

Scripture Reading: Jonah 1

Focus Verses: Jonah 1:1-3a  "Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. 

As I mentioned in our devotion last week Jonah disobeyed the Lord before obeying and going to Nineveh.  In fact when God said “arise and go to Nineveh” Jonah actually headed for Tarshish which was in the opposite direction.  

 

Has God ever asked you to do something and you did the opposite?  I know I have.  Jonah could have just stayed where he was, but the Bible says he went in the opposite direction, because he wanted to get away from the presence of the Lord.  When we disobey and sin we don’t like being in the presence of the Lord because it makes us uncomfortable.  Jonah had his reasons why he didn’t want to go to Nineveh.  But no reason is good enough to make us want to disobey God.  When we disobey God what we are actually saying is “I know what’s better for me than God does.” We all know how Jonah’s plan turned out for him, in the belly of a big fish. 

 

There is something I hear the children in Kenya say quite often. "God is good all the time, and all the time God is good.”  If God is good all the time then God knows what is good for us all the time, and He can be trusted.  So when God is asking you to do something, don't run away from Him.  Let’s do what He says gladly.

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

The World Needs Revival

Scripture Reading:  Jonah 3

Focus Verse: Jonah 3:5  “The people of Nineveh believed God’s message, and from the greatest to the least, they declared a fast and put on burlap to show their sorrow.”  

Many people think that what happened in Nineveh was the greatest change of an entire city that the world has ever seen.  The Bible says from the greatest to the least turned from their wicked ways and turned to God.  That’s a powerful repentance.  And God used Jonah, a man who was not even obedient to God, at first, to go to Nineveh.  No man can manufacture a massive conversion of the heart like this.  Only the Spirit of God can bring about this kind of change.  God knew what He wanted to do in Nineveh and He would have accomplished it either with Jonah or without Jonah.  No man can start a Godly movement and no man can stop it.

Here in the US we are seeing an impressive revival that started as an ordinary chapel program until one young man gave a testimony of God.  This began a cascade of repentance among those present.  The service continued through the night and into the next day and has not stopped for a full week.  They switch out those leading in prayer, reading of the scripture, leading in worship, etc. People are coming from all over to attend.  We are seeing God’s Spirit working on this Kentucky college campus in the lives of many young people.  I pray that this may be the beginning of America turning back to God.  We realize that in the last few years America has drifted so far away from God.  

A revival starts when God’s Spirit pours out into individual lives.  The evidence of true revival, a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon believers, is changed lives.  Let God do the work of revival in my heart.  Allow God to do the work of revival in your own heart.  Now is the time to lay aside the sin and hindrances of this world and submit ourselves to Him fully.  Romans 13:11 says, “This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is... time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.”   We do not know the day or the hour of Jesus' return.  Let this revival of God working begin in our lives, and then share it with others.

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

Wait for God's time

Read: Matthew 4
Focus Scripture : Matthew 4:8-9  Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.  “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

Have you ever felt the temptation to get something before it's right time? You know very well that you need it but you don't want to wait for God's time before you can finally have it. Maybe the pressure to have sex before marriage or the temptations not to wait with your partner when you still don't have a child. Did you ever feel like, okey "God knows I am His child and that I should be entitled to these things so nothing wrong even if I have them now?"

Jesus found himself in such a situation with Satan. He had just begun His ministry which would finally bring glory to Him and the Father. Satan knew very well that Jesus was going to overcome and finally be crowned with glory so he wanted Jesus to have this kingship before God's appointed time. Jesus came to overcome but He had to go through trials, rejection, pain, crucifixion and death before He could be finally crowned. He had the choice of bowing before satan and having it easy but He didn't fall into the trap of Satan. He knew that true glory only comes from obedience to God the Father.  You, too, must be willing to endure your cross if you truly want God's best plan.  Satan is a deceiver who doesn't want believers to accept to wait patiently upon God's time. He has a photocopy of what you need but God has the original of your need.

Finally, after Jesus had endured and refuted the tricks of Satan and went to the cross and overcame, he quotes these beautiful words in Matthew 28:18 - “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." What the devil wanted to give Him as He began his ministry is now fully given to Him by God the Father in a glorious way but He had to endure the cross. Believers need to wait for it from God and never rush into the offers of Satan.   Ecclesiastes 3:1 There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens. Romans 8:18 - For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Whatever God wants to be yours will be yours regardless of what time, but you must be willing to endure and persevere for it. Refute and resist the devil and he will flee away from you. (James 4:7)

By,
Pastor Eliazar Wambo
Director Bethesda Faith Ministries

False Teachers

False Teachers
Bible Reading: Jude
Focus verse: "I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ." Jude 4

Jude, the half-brother of Jesus, wrote a letter to those who are together in the salvation of Jesus.  He really wanted to send a letter rejoicing in their common salvation, but could sense that he should be sending some warnings as well.  The first warning is to strive to keep the gospel pure and not distorted.  He wants you to check what preachers teach to see if they match up to the Bible, the original writings.  False teachers will be plentiful in the last days.  It's interesting that the book of Jude comes before Revelation in the Bible.  There are many who claim to speak for God today.

How can you find the true preachers?  How do you notice a false teacher?

First, you must study the Word of God for yourself.  When you know the truth, you will recognize a lie.

Second, be sure of their views are right on who Jesus is, the trinity, repentance and Christ's work of redemption for salvation.  Matthew 16:15-16  Is the Gospel part of their message or does it seem incomplete or perverted?

Third, look for the fruit of a Christian in their lives. Matthew 12:33 Do you see a heart that is affected by the Holy Spirit in their lives. Nobody is perfect, but do their lives show fruits of the Spirit?  Galatians 5:22-23  Do you see humility or pride?

Fourth, are they teaching from the Bible or their own ideas and thoughts of what is reasonable to them?  It may sound good, but our hearts can deceive us.  The Bible says "Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son." 2 John 9  Remember that at false teacher can have good intentions, but in the end, they are a tool of the enemy

Thanks Jude, for the warnings, caution and encouragement!  We must be aware of false teachers and the dangers of following them.  We must remain faithful to the true Gospel and encourage one another.  We must show mercy to those whose faith wavers, rescue some from judgement, show mercy to people while hating the sin that contaminates their lives.  May God have glory in our lives as he keeps us completely His forever.

~Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries