Is Satan For Real?

Scripture Reading:  Genesis 3

Focus Verse:  John 10: 7-10  "7 Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who ever came before Me[a] are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."

You better believe Satan is for real.  It doesn't matter if you are Kenyan, American, European, or Russian, Satan has one goal and that is to kill and destroy you.  Satan hates you.  You have a target on your back.  How will he attack you?  Let's see what he did in Genesis.

I love the book of Genesis, because it gives us the account of how the world began.  It also gives us the account of when mankind first sinned.  Let's look at some key points on how Satan attacked Eve so that we will not fall for his lies.  First, he questioned God's WORD.  He wanted Eve to think she misunderstood what God said.  Satan will still twist the truth today.  He wants us to question God's commands.  Second, he questioned God's LOVE.  Satan wanted Eve to think God was holding back something good for her.  When God tells us not to do something it is for our own good, because He loves us and doesn't want to see us get hurt.  Third, Satan DENIED God's Word.  First he questioned then he denied God's Word.  He first said, "did God really say that?" to saying, "that's a lie."  If Eve had not listened to Satan's questioning she never would have then believed the lie.  4. Then Satan gave her his own lie.  Satan said that if she would eat of the tree, she would become like God, and she would not die.

The Bible says Satan is the father of lies. All sin begins in our minds. Satan will attempt to get you to second-guess what God has said in His Word. The best way to stand against Satan's attacks is to fill your mind with God's Word of truth.  2 Corinthians 10: 4-5 says,  "4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (physical) but mighty in God (spiritual) for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ."

If you are truly saved, Satan knows he can't touch your salvation.  But if he can get you to fall into sin he can keep you from being an effective servant for God.  He wants to destroy your testimony and reputation.  Let us renew our minds everyday in God's Word so we can stand against our enemy that wants to destroy us.  Who are your going to please today? God or Satan?

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Verse of the Day, ""Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” 1 Corinthians 1:10 NKJV

God's Graduating Class

Scripture Reading: Genesis 41

Focus Verses: Genesis 41: 37-41
37 So the advice was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants. 38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?”

39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. 40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” 41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.”


This week my son, Caleb, graduated from high school.  In America, this time of year, there are many graduation ceremonies for the completion of studies.  When we see someone graduate it is the result of hard work that has been done.

In the book of Genesis we have the story of a man who graduated after a lot of hard work.  Joseph had to pass many tests before he could graduate.  Here are some of the tests that came to Joseph:  He had to overcome the hatred of his brothers.  He was exposed to sexual temptation, and then punished for doing the right thing.  He was sent to prison for a long time, and forgotten by those he helped.  As you read Joseph's story in Genesis 41, notice what he did in each test.  His positive response was a step forward.  He didn't spend time asking God why this was happening.  Those who met Joseph along life's journey knew that God was with him.

What matters is not so much the events or circumstances of life, but how you respond to them.  With God's help, any situation can be used for good, even when others intend it for evil.  So with the story of Joseph we see him go from slave, to graduating, to the second most powerful person in the world.  God will hold a graduation ceremony for each one of us that has been faithful to Him.  It's up to us if we want to be a part of God's graduating class.  If you want to read the entire story of Joseph it is found in Genesis 37-50.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

God's Discipline

Scripture Reading: James 1

Focus Verse: James 1:12  "God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation.  Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him."

Why do you think God allows testing and temptation in our lives?  Does God like to see us struggle in this life?  No.  God wants us to rely on Him even when we don't understand what He is doing in our lives.  He wants us to mature spiritually.  We should be patient and trust God when we don't understand things in our life.  Those who love Him will receive the crown of life.

Some things in this life are difficult and a struggle.  The Bible says in Hebrews 12:6 "For who the Lord loves He chastens."  The word chasten means to train or discipline.  A good athlete will train and discipline his body until it hurts, because he knows that is how he will get stronger.  Sometime God will train us and it is difficult and maybe painful.  God knows this will make us stronger if we keep our faith in Him.

When we see test and trials come into our lives, this is an indication of God's love for us and that He is helping us to grow strong.  It is not a punishment for wrongdoing.  But, when we are tempted to do wrong and we commit sin as believers, God sends His Holy Spirit to convict us of that wrong.  (If we can continue to sin and feel no sorrow, it might be because we are not truly a child of God.)  Instead of seeing God's discipline as an inconvenience in your life, thank Him.  Be thankful for the blessings that you have and that He is looking out for you.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Multiplying Christians

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4

Focus Verses: Ephesians 4:11-16 

^"11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. ¹² Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. ¹³ This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
¹⁴ Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. ¹⁵ Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. ¹⁶ He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love."

Some day in the future this earth will pass away.  There are two things that will not pass away.  People and God's Word.  Both will last forever.  We know that the human soul will exist forever in heaven or hell.  God's Word will remain in heaven forever.

Why don't we spend our time on the things that are eternal?   If I tell someone about Jesus and disciple them, and that person tells someone else about Jesus, then I have multiplied myself.  This is how the world will be won for Christ.  There is no way that I can talk with everyone in Kenya about Jesus, but many of you can.  We can learn by Paul's example in the Bible to disciple others.

2 Timothy 2:2 "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also."  Some other examples of discipleship are:  Paul discipling Timothy who had an important part in leading the early church.  Moses discipled Joshua for many years before passing Israel's leadership to him.  But the best example was Jesus who spent many hours teaching His disciples.  Then the disciples went out and changed the world.  That's multiplication of Christians.

I would encourage you to spend time in God's Word and learn the things God wants us to know to be more Christ like.  Then go and speak these truths in love to others.  The Bible says that God's Word will never return void.  Isaiah 55:11 "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."

Find someone today that you can speak some truth from God's Word into their life.  This is how discipleship grows a church, a community, a fishing beach, and an entire world, one life at a time.

Bobby Johnson
Executive Director, Interlocking Ministries