Jesus Cleans From The Inside

Jesus Cleans From The Inside

Scripture Reading:  Mark 7:1-23

Focus Verse: Jeremiah 17:9-10   "The human heart is most deceitful and desperately wicked.  Who really knows how bad it is?  But I know!  I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives.  I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve."

Most of us never think about how bad our heart is until we've done something wrong.  Jesus teaches us in Mark 7 that our defilement comes from within.  The Pharisees always talked about how righteous they were.  But Jesus could see right through them and knew how wicked their hearts were.  God sees our hearts too.  He knows the deepest secret motives of our hearts.  You can be sure that the sins listed in our passage, anyone of us are capable of committing.  Don't ever follow your heart.  It will take you down the wrong path every time. You must lead your heart.  Proverbs 4:23 says, "Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do."

We must ask God to show us any wicked thing in our hearts and to cleans us.  1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us from all unrighteousness."  So today take a look at your heart.  Make things right with God and then teach others how to have a clean heart as well.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

The First Earthly Authority

Scripture reading:  Exodus 20:1-17

Focus verses: "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ² “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: ³ “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”  Ephesians 6:1-3

We read in Exodus that God has given the ten commandments because the people needed to know what God requires.  It is impossible to live a perfect life, but it is good for Christians to strive to walk in righteousness.

God sets up the lines of authority.  God is to be our only god.  We are to have no other things that come before him.  He is our first authority.  He also tells us that our parents are the earthly authority for their children.  We are to obey our parents and honor them.  Parents have had more years of experience and wisdom.  This is increased greatly if the parents follow Christ and Godly wisdom.

Notice that the command to honor your parents doesn't end after you become an adult.  Notice also that the command doesn't say to honor them only if they believe in Christ.  Celebrate that this is for our own good, that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.  If you are a parent, you should not abuse your authority.  God warns, " And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord." in Ephesians 6:4

What can you do today to show honor to your parents if they are still living?

~Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

The Perfect Authority

Bible Reading: Genesis 3:1-5

Focus verse: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. "  Genesis 1:1

What do you think when you hear the word "Authority"?
There are police, Chiefs, Managers, Presidents, teachers, parents, and if you work, you might have a boss.  It is necessary that we have authority and follow it or else there would be chaos.  We don't always agree with them, we may not have voted for them, but we accept it.

When you are under someone's authority, you may feel like you struggle with your attitude toward their them.  You may even feel like rebelling.  But, how does it feel if you are the one in authority?  Suddenly, you want everyone to listen and follow you.  Which do you prefer?  We think that we have less freedom when we are under someone else's authority. 

Really?  That's what Eve thought in the Garden of Eden.  She was interested in getting out from under authority, but she had the best authority... God.  He was perfect, gave Adam and Eve everything they needed and allowed them to have such freedom in the Garden.  They were only forbidden to eat of the fruit of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Lots of freedom.

Did Adam and Eve find more freedom or less freedom by disobeying their authority?  In looking for freedom, Eve found a burden of sin.  We all are under authority of someone, and the perfect authority is God.   We must choose to give ourselves over to God's authority if we want to be FREE.  Truly free.

Additional reading:

The authority of God 1) the one triune God . You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you. - Nehemiah 9:6 NIV

"But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men." Acts 5:29

"Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ."  Colossians 2:8

 

Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Jesus Cleans From The Inside

Scripture Reading:  Mark 7:1-23

Focus Verse: Jeremiah 17:9-10   "The human heart is most deceitful and desperately wicked.  Who really knows how bad it is?  But I know!  I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives.  I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve."

Most of us never think about how bad our heart is until we've done something wrong.  Jesus teaches us in Mark 7 that our defilement comes from within.  The Pharisees always talked about how righteous they were.  But Jesus could see right through them and knew how wicked their hearts were.  God sees our hearts too.  He knows the deepest secret motives of our hearts.  You can be sure that the sins listed in our passage, anyone of us are capable of committing.  Don't ever follow your heart.  It will take you down the wrong path every time. You must lead your heart.  Proverbs 4:23 says, "Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do."

We must ask God to show us any wicked thing in our hearts and to cleans us.  1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us from all unrighteousness."  So today take a look at your heart.  Make things right with God and then teach others how to have a clean heart as well.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Called to Serve!

Scripture reading Luke 7:36-50
Focus verse: Luke 7:44-47 “The he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman from the time I entered has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil in my head but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven – for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”

From the story of Simon inviting Jesus into his house we learn that Jesus wants us, who have been forgiven, to show love to him by serving Him. Inviting Jesus into our lives is one thing but service is the next thing. We have not been called to sit and watch things but to serve God using our God given talents. Service is not about when you came to know God. The lady came to Jesus after Simon had invited Him but she served more than Simon. Simon was not happy with this lady serving Jesus and spoke about her to himself. Satan will always want to oppose your love and service to God but don’t be discouraged as long as your motive is to bring glory to Jesus.

Have you invited Jesus into your life but do so little when it comes to loving and serving God?  Some people are so quick to mention how long they have been Christians but cannot tell how far they have helped to further God’s kingdom through service. In fact some do less service but are also quick to criticize those who serve wholeheartedly.  Ephesians 6:7 says, "Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people." 

Our service is needed not just needed in the church alone but also in our communities, nation and even the world at large. Many people are still not yet reached with God’s message of salvation. Many marriages are breaking yet we have God’s word that can mend them. Many are still destitute and losing hope yet we have what can encourage or support them. Romans 12:6-8 - We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others; let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. Revelation 22:12 “Behold I am coming soon! My reward is with me and I will give everyone according to what he has done.”

Pastor Eliazar Wambo
Makira Baptist Church - Mfangano

Choosing People

Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 16:1-13Focus verse 1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Samuel is sent to the family of Jesse to anoint one of his sons to be the king of Israel. Jesse presents seven of his sons but none of them is anointed by God to be the king. Maybe Jesse thought the king would anointed be based on height, masculine body, handsome appearance, age factor, voice projection, strength etc but all these failed. God tells Samuel that, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Proverbs 30:31 – Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Jesus was friends with the rejected and did not love partially but gave himself for all people regardless how they appear or what they are in the society. In fact he even advised believers on who to put in their guest list whenever they have celebrations, Luke 14:13-14 “But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind; and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

I will admit that this is one area where I have to repent and do it the right way. Did you ever travel in a public bus where seats are free for you to choose which one to sit? In Kenya we do. In fact we even have the motorbike transportation where many motorbike riders commonly known as “boda-boda” all park together and it is upon the customer to chose who to ride them. Or say you walk into a restaurant and find two ladies serving waitress, one looking more beautiful than the other and they all come to take orders from.  Therefore, how do you choose who to take your orders, or who to ride you on a motorbike or who to sit closer to in a public bus or public function? If you will be honest with me you will accept that the hook of choosing by appearance has caught you severely. In addition we have many relationships that were started based on physical appearance without considering what is in the heart.

Let us not be guided by what our physical eyes are telling us. Remember there are also wolves in sheep clothes!  Let us consider the heart of people.

Pastor Eliazar Wambo
Makira Baptist Church - Mfangano

Being Called Names?

Bible Reading Luke 7:18-35
Focus Verse: Luke 7:33-34 “For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘he has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.”

A few weeks ago I had a counseling serving with a lady who felt she needed to quit her church because she felt in her heart that another lady in the church was out to criticize her in most of the things she said or does. She explained that she has grown cold feet in serving God using her gifts and resources since someone was out to discredit her in all she did. God led me into helping her understand that the gospel has suffered opposition from the time of Jesus and the Apostles, and until today. The devil is a liar who uses liars to further his work and discourage Christians from serving God. You must never quit serving God because people are turning your good intentions for their ill motives and are calling you names. Satan will always find a false reason to discourage you from serving God. He knew that John was a messenger from God who had come to prepare the way for The Son of God. He had to find false accusation and false names against him. He tried to oppose peoples’ attention towards Jesus by calling him names. In fact, Jesus did not quit serving the needs of the people because of being called names. He did it more and more till His earthly mission was accomplished.
John 15:18 – If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Romans 8:31-32: What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? You are not the only Christian facing opposition, many have gone through what you are presently passing, 1 Cor. 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Pastor Eliazar Wambo
Makira Baptist Church - Mfangano

Additional reading: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:34-35

"And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10: 24-25