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

As for Me...

Scripture Reading: Joshua 24: 14-18  (<-- make sure you click the scripture to open the verses)

Focus Verse: "...as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD" Joshua 24:15

Moses was no longer leading the Israelites to promised land.  Although he helped to start the journey, it was now time for Joshua to complete the mission.  Joshua was leading the tribe and wanted them to know that they should follow God completely.  They should put away their idols and serve God alone.  It is a choice that each person should make on their own.  He declared that for his family, that they would serve the Lord.   The Israelites then committed to follow God, who had rescued them from their enemies and preserved them.  They followed their leader's example and took a stand.

Many times we are tempted to follow the traditions of the past.  The Israelites had lived with idols in Egypt and it was a part of normal life.  Now they were challenged to never return to living that way.  We are often challenged with following Christ and leaving behind some traditions.  The more you learn of Christ and the Word of God, the more you realize that some of your traditions should change.  This is true whether you live in America or Kenya.

Are you faced with the need of renewing your commitment to God.  Maybe you have been falling back into some traditions that have been a part of your life before.  Maybe you are looking at the path that you should take.  Don't run from God.  Renew your commitment to Him today.  Take a stand. Proclaim your complete commitment to God: "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Theodore Epp said, "Our strength is seen in the things we stand for; our weakness is seen in the things we fall for."

~Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Recognizing Our True Condition

Scripture Reading: Matthew 5 (<--- remember to click on the reference to see the entire scripture.)

Focus Verses:
Matthew 5: 3-5  “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
    For they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
    For they shall inherit the earth.

Do you know the way to true blessedness?  Jesus teaches us three things about good spiritual health. 

1.  To see ourselves as we really are.  When we realize that we need God as the focus of our lives we see ourselves as we really are: a sinner, in need of God's forgiveness.  To realize your need of God is to see that you are spiritually bankrupt.  We have nothing without Him.

2.  Take action and turn.  When we see ourselves as we really are, we are sorry for our condition. Then this leads us to take action and make changes in our lives.  2 Corinthians 7:10 says  "For God can use sorrow in our lives to help us turn away from sin and seek salvation.  We will never regret that kind of sorrow.  But sorrow without repentance is the kind that results in death."  Our true sorrow will lead to joy and salvation in Jesus Christ as well as a changed life.

3.  Pursue meekness.  We will no longer have pride in our lives.  This contradicts the way the world thinks; standing up for our rights, putting ourselves above others, always wanting to win arguments.  The meekness that Jesus describes here is not weakness, but rather power under constraint.  Much like a big horse controlled by a small  bit in his mouth.

When we recognize our true condition, we humble ourselves and confront our weaknesses.  We will see a change in our lives as we rely on God's power in our meekness. We will be happier with ourselves and others.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries