God’s Cell Phone

Bible Reading: Matthew 6:5-18Focus Verse: John 17:20-21(Jesus prayed) "I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.   I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me."

     Do you ever talk to God? Do you really know what prayer is? Do you know there are some things that you must know in order for God to answer His cell phone?
God really doesn’t have a cell phone, but the Bible tells us a lot about prayer.

     First of all, prayer has two parts. One is that we talk to God either by word of mouth or by our thoughts. The second is that God talks to us through reading the Bible.

    Who can pray? The answer is that everyone can pray. However there are limitations for some people. If some praying people are not children of God, Luke 18:13 says that the only prayer that God hears from them is “God be merciful to me a sinner”.  If you are a child of God as described in John 1:12 which says, “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name” you have the right to come to God at any time and ask for anything.

     God answers our prayers in three ways. The first is Yes. The second is No. The third is wait a while. God knows what is best for us.

     Recently, I came across a very special verse in John 17:9 which says that Jesus prays for us. If Jesus thinks prayer is important, shouldn’t we? 

~Rev. Bob Johnson, Jr

The Early Church

The Early Church
Bible Reading: Acts 11
Focus Verse: Acts 11: 26 “The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”

What is your favorite book in the Bible? Your favorite probably changes as you do your Bible study. Right now, my favorite is the book of Acts. What an exciting book. There are some thrilling accounts and also some very sad happenings. Dr. Luke, one of Jesus’ disciples, wrote the book of Luke and the book of Acts. Of course he knew Jesus well. It is said that the book of Luke is the story of Jesus as lived by Him. The book of Acts is the story of Jesus as lived by others. Acts picks up where his Gospel left off. Before Jesus left the earth and went to heaven, He told His followers in Acts 1:8, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 

 
Once the power of the Holy Spirit was with Jesus’ followers, there was the account of Peter’s powerful sermon which brought 3,000 conversions and launched the church (Acts:2). As Peter traveled to different areas telling the good news of Jesus, the new followers of Christ were first called Christians in Antioch.” Acts 11:26. The witness of Peter to mainly Jews and later Paul who witnessed to Gentiles resulted in harsh persecution. Did it mean that they quit? No!
How much does the plan of salvation mean to you? Acts 16:31 is Paul’s message that you can share. Are you a missionary to those around you? Acts is the only unfinished book in the Bible. Notice how abruptly it closes in chapter 28. In Acts 17:6, Luke describes the heroes of Acts as “these who have turned the world upside down.” If the world ever needed to be turned upside down, it’s now. Does it seem like we are living in the 29th chapter of Acts? 

~Debbie Johnson

To the Glory of God... In the End

Bible Reading: Isaiah 18

Focus Verse: "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." Romans 8:28

God’s Glory remains evident after enduring a difficult period of your life.  It reminds me of the rainbow after the severe storm, or the first flowers of spring after a long, cold winter.  We read in the passage today about the prophesy of a land that was troubling God’s people.  There would be suffering, but in the end, God’s Glory would be seen.

It could be that you are going through a very difficult time in your life.  When you are in the midst of that trouble, it is difficult to imagine that there is the Glory of God waiting to shine at the end of the tunnel.  In the scriptures today, it says that the enemy was feared and aggressive.  Maybe that is how you feel about the troubles bothering you today.  I remember feeling so low that I was sure that the next day would never come.  We can’t always trust the way that we feel.  We need to trust in God.

Jesus said that in this life, you will have troubles, but to be encouraged because He has overcome the world.  This is a sure thing.  Jesus will walk with you through your troubles.  He wants you to turn to Him with your troubles.  Pray for the things that are troubling you today.  Trust in God’s promises.  God will take care of His people and be a shelter to them.  In the end, there will be great Glory!

Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries