Scripture Reading: Psalm 55
Focus Verse: Psalm 55:2 Please listen and answer me, for I am overwhelmed by my troubles.
In this Psalm David has come to the "end of his rope", as we like to say, because there is nothing left for him to hold on to in this world. He is letting the Lord know how he feels. We all go through times in our lives when we don’t know where else to turn. God wants to be the one you turn to. Just like any loving parent, God want to be the one to help, when you have nowhere else to turn. He has promised He would never leave us or forsake us. Sometimes God will allow us to get to that point where we can only turn to Him. We may try to fix our situation by going to many different people or places. We may even doubt God, His love, or His power to help. We must go to God anyway because He can help you, and he wants to help you. Your problems are never bigger than God. God will meet you where you are and help you to overcome. So cry out to Him in your time of need. He will hear you, and He will do something about your situation.
"Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD." Psalm 27:14
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Thursday, April 14, 2016
Friday, April 1, 2016
God Knows What’s Best
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 55
Focus Verses: Isaiah 55: 8-9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
We have just finished celebrating Easter. Jesus’ disciples did not understand Jesus’ death. To them it was the darkest day in human history when Jesus died on a cross. But God had a plan. The darkest day in human history was followed three days later by the greatest day in human history, when Jesus came out of that grave.
Many times God does things in our lives that we don’t understand. Storms and trials are always hard to understand. We wonder how any good can come from them. It all comes down to trust. Do you trust that God is doing what is best for you? It is during the storms of life that Satan want you to doubt God’s love for you. But you can know that God is always faithful, and He knows what is best even when we don’t know what is best for ourselves. We can trust Him that His ways and thoughts will always be higher than ours. So be encouraged today. God will never leave you alone in a storm. He knows what’s best, and will always bring you through.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verses: Isaiah 55: 8-9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
We have just finished celebrating Easter. Jesus’ disciples did not understand Jesus’ death. To them it was the darkest day in human history when Jesus died on a cross. But God had a plan. The darkest day in human history was followed three days later by the greatest day in human history, when Jesus came out of that grave.
Many times God does things in our lives that we don’t understand. Storms and trials are always hard to understand. We wonder how any good can come from them. It all comes down to trust. Do you trust that God is doing what is best for you? It is during the storms of life that Satan want you to doubt God’s love for you. But you can know that God is always faithful, and He knows what is best even when we don’t know what is best for ourselves. We can trust Him that His ways and thoughts will always be higher than ours. So be encouraged today. God will never leave you alone in a storm. He knows what’s best, and will always bring you through.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Thursday, March 24, 2016
I am Barabbas
Bible Reading: Matthew 27:11-26and Luke 23:15–22
Memory Verse: "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 6:23
Barabbas was a well known criminal and trouble maker that was in jail for murder. He was headed for a punishment of death. He did not deserve a release. There was no evidence of repentance or sorrow for the sins that he committed.
Romans 5:8 says this: " But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners."
Jesus, the innocent, gave his life first for Barabbas, an unrepentant sinner. Barabbas did nothing to deserve this, but had the same love and opportunity as everyone.
Jesus loved you first while you were in the worst of your sin. You don't deserve this love, but He gives it freely. You have the opportunity to respond to this love by accepting the free gift that God offers through Jesus.
We are all guilty and deserve condemnation but because of the willing substitution of the innocent Christ in our place, there is a free gift of freedom from those sins for those who accept. “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick,” Jesus says in Mark 2:17. “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
I identify with Barabbas as a sinner who was released from the deserved punishment of the sin. I am Barabbas.
Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Memory Verse: "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 6:23
Barabbas was a well known criminal and trouble maker that was in jail for murder. He was headed for a punishment of death. He did not deserve a release. There was no evidence of repentance or sorrow for the sins that he committed.
Romans 5:8 says this: " But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners."
Jesus, the innocent, gave his life first for Barabbas, an unrepentant sinner. Barabbas did nothing to deserve this, but had the same love and opportunity as everyone.
Jesus loved you first while you were in the worst of your sin. You don't deserve this love, but He gives it freely. You have the opportunity to respond to this love by accepting the free gift that God offers through Jesus.
We are all guilty and deserve condemnation but because of the willing substitution of the innocent Christ in our place, there is a free gift of freedom from those sins for those who accept. “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick,” Jesus says in Mark 2:17. “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
I identify with Barabbas as a sinner who was released from the deserved punishment of the sin. I am Barabbas.
Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, March 4, 2016
God Changes Your Plans
Scripture Reading: Matthew 16:21-28
Focus Verse: Matthew 16:22 But Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke Him for saying such things. "Heaven forbid Lord", he said. "This will never happen to you."
How do you handle it when God changes your plans? I should be in Kenya right now, but I’m still at home. There was a mechanical issue with the airplane, so my trip is delayed 24 hours. Sometimes we don’t like it and have a hard time adjusting when God changes our plans. In our text Peter had a hard time adjusting to a different plan. Peter could not accept the fact that Jesus had to die on a cross. Peter said that will never happen, and even rebuked Jesus for saying such a thing. Peter was so concerned with the change of plan in his mind, that he didn’t even hear Jesus say that He would be raised from the dead on the third day. So think about this, if Peter had his way, with no change of plans, then the redemption of mankind would not have happened. I think God had a better plan of sending Jesus to the cross. Sometimes we may never know why God changes our plans. But He is in control and has the right to change our plans anytime. So just be flexible, because your plans are going to change sometimes.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verse: Matthew 16:22 But Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke Him for saying such things. "Heaven forbid Lord", he said. "This will never happen to you."
How do you handle it when God changes your plans? I should be in Kenya right now, but I’m still at home. There was a mechanical issue with the airplane, so my trip is delayed 24 hours. Sometimes we don’t like it and have a hard time adjusting when God changes our plans. In our text Peter had a hard time adjusting to a different plan. Peter could not accept the fact that Jesus had to die on a cross. Peter said that will never happen, and even rebuked Jesus for saying such a thing. Peter was so concerned with the change of plan in his mind, that he didn’t even hear Jesus say that He would be raised from the dead on the third day. So think about this, if Peter had his way, with no change of plans, then the redemption of mankind would not have happened. I think God had a better plan of sending Jesus to the cross. Sometimes we may never know why God changes our plans. But He is in control and has the right to change our plans anytime. So just be flexible, because your plans are going to change sometimes.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Plant, Nurture, Harvest, and Repeat
Bible Reading
Matthew l3: 1-23
Focus Verse:
Matthew 13:23 "The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
Do you have a favorite childhood story that your parents or a teacher told you that taught you a lesson or truth? An analogy that parallels a truth makes that truth easier to understand whether you are a child or an adult. Jesus, in Matthew 13, teaches the disciples and the crowd about the kingdom using 7 parables. He explained 2 of them, one being the parable of the sower.
First there is a Sower which represents God, Jesus, and the believers. Second there is the Seed which represents The Word or the gospel and how the seed is often lost and not reproduced. Third there is the Soil, Jesus described 3 bad soils and one good soil, showing how people receive and respond to the gospel. A man’s reception of God Word is determined by the condition of his heart.
The hard soil or hard heart hears the Word but doesn’t understand it. So the birds/Satan snatches it away.
The rocky ground hears the Word with joy, but has no root, so doesn’t last when the hot sun or persecution, pressure or trouble come because of the Word.
The thorny/weedy soil hears the Word but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches chokes the Word, v.22.
The good soil hears the Word, understands it and then bears fruit, like good seed, reproducing 30 times, 60 times, or 100 times itself.
Have you ever sown seed and seen it land on one of these soils? God does not expect us to have control over the hearers of the gospel but we are to sow the seed. If someone looks at your life what kind of soil would they see? Sometimes Christians fall back into sin. Some Christians fail to be productive, because they are not developing and/or using the gifts God has given them.
We can ask ourselves 1. Am I compassionate about the fields that are white unto harvest?
Am I planting seeds? 3. Am I nurturing seedlings? 4. Am I reaping the harvest?
The solutions to these situations is to renew our commitment to serve Jesus as Lord. Jesus expects every believer to be fruitful and productive. May our faith and our lives exemplify the “good soil”.
Written by Nancy Olive
Mother of Page Johnson, Interlocking Ministries
Matthew l3: 1-23
Focus Verse:
Matthew 13:23 "The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
Do you have a favorite childhood story that your parents or a teacher told you that taught you a lesson or truth? An analogy that parallels a truth makes that truth easier to understand whether you are a child or an adult. Jesus, in Matthew 13, teaches the disciples and the crowd about the kingdom using 7 parables. He explained 2 of them, one being the parable of the sower.
First there is a Sower which represents God, Jesus, and the believers. Second there is the Seed which represents The Word or the gospel and how the seed is often lost and not reproduced. Third there is the Soil, Jesus described 3 bad soils and one good soil, showing how people receive and respond to the gospel. A man’s reception of God Word is determined by the condition of his heart.
The hard soil or hard heart hears the Word but doesn’t understand it. So the birds/Satan snatches it away.
The rocky ground hears the Word with joy, but has no root, so doesn’t last when the hot sun or persecution, pressure or trouble come because of the Word.
The thorny/weedy soil hears the Word but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches chokes the Word, v.22.
The good soil hears the Word, understands it and then bears fruit, like good seed, reproducing 30 times, 60 times, or 100 times itself.
Have you ever sown seed and seen it land on one of these soils? God does not expect us to have control over the hearers of the gospel but we are to sow the seed. If someone looks at your life what kind of soil would they see? Sometimes Christians fall back into sin. Some Christians fail to be productive, because they are not developing and/or using the gifts God has given them.
We can ask ourselves 1. Am I compassionate about the fields that are white unto harvest?
Am I planting seeds? 3. Am I nurturing seedlings? 4. Am I reaping the harvest?
The solutions to these situations is to renew our commitment to serve Jesus as Lord. Jesus expects every believer to be fruitful and productive. May our faith and our lives exemplify the “good soil”.
Written by Nancy Olive
Mother of Page Johnson, Interlocking Ministries
Friday, February 19, 2016
Preaching & Teaching Scripture
Bible reading: Nehemiah 8:1-12
Focus verse: "So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God’s words and understood them." Nehemiah 8:12
The people understood the Scriptures as Ezra read them. God opened their ears and eyes to understanding.
Jesus wants us to know the scriptures. He rebuked ministers for not knowing the scriptures in Matthew 12:3-5, 19:4, 21:42 and 22:31, where He says, "Have you not read?" and "Did you not read in the scriptures" When teaching the Word of God, it is important that you understand it's meaning. There are scriptures, that when taken out of context, can have a different meaning. As you read God's Word, it is important to understand the meaning of the scriptures in the entire book, before deciding what one verse means. It is a common mistake.
As a preacher and teacher, you must be sure of what you say before you say it. We are judged more than those who do not teach God's Word. Go to God in all humility and ask Him to allow the Holy Spirit to give understanding as you read the Bible. We do not teach merely our own ideas, but teach the truth of God's Word.
It is better to say, "I don't know" to a follower of Christ than to give an answer that is not correct.
~Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus verse: "So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God’s words and understood them." Nehemiah 8:12
The people understood the Scriptures as Ezra read them. God opened their ears and eyes to understanding.
Jesus wants us to know the scriptures. He rebuked ministers for not knowing the scriptures in Matthew 12:3-5, 19:4, 21:42 and 22:31, where He says, "Have you not read?" and "Did you not read in the scriptures" When teaching the Word of God, it is important that you understand it's meaning. There are scriptures, that when taken out of context, can have a different meaning. As you read God's Word, it is important to understand the meaning of the scriptures in the entire book, before deciding what one verse means. It is a common mistake.
As a preacher and teacher, you must be sure of what you say before you say it. We are judged more than those who do not teach God's Word. Go to God in all humility and ask Him to allow the Holy Spirit to give understanding as you read the Bible. We do not teach merely our own ideas, but teach the truth of God's Word.
It is better to say, "I don't know" to a follower of Christ than to give an answer that is not correct.
~Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Saturday, February 13, 2016
Commitment
Scripture Reading: John 2:1-12
Focus Verses: John 2:1-2 "On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.”
True love is making a commitment to each other for life. What is a commitment? I can remember when I was a young child it was rare to hear of a married couple getting a divorce. Now, it is a bit more common. Secondly, I can remember when business partners could complete a business deal with a hand shake. Not anymore. Now lawyers must draw us contracts that both parties must sign to hold each other to the deal. Still, contracts are broken and settlements are made in court. This is not how God intended for us to treat commitment.
As Christians we are to stand by our commitments. Marriages should be a life long commitment to each other and if you make a business deal with someone, keep your commitment that you have agreed on with that person. Your word is at stake. Let the world see that as Christians we can stand by our commitments. God stands by his commitments and so should we. Seek God and He will help you keep your commitments.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verses: John 2:1-2 "On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.”
True love is making a commitment to each other for life. What is a commitment? I can remember when I was a young child it was rare to hear of a married couple getting a divorce. Now, it is a bit more common. Secondly, I can remember when business partners could complete a business deal with a hand shake. Not anymore. Now lawyers must draw us contracts that both parties must sign to hold each other to the deal. Still, contracts are broken and settlements are made in court. This is not how God intended for us to treat commitment.
As Christians we are to stand by our commitments. Marriages should be a life long commitment to each other and if you make a business deal with someone, keep your commitment that you have agreed on with that person. Your word is at stake. Let the world see that as Christians we can stand by our commitments. God stands by his commitments and so should we. Seek God and He will help you keep your commitments.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
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