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
Friday, February 15, 2019
Friday, February 8, 2019
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
Friday, February 1, 2019
Giving God the Glory
Scripture Reading: Romans 1:1-27
Focus Verse: Romans 1:5 “Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey Him, bringing glory to His name.
I have heard the definition that "darkness is the absence of light.” God is Light and His light is in all those who believe and follow Him. As God’s children we should let our lights shine in this dark world. Jesus said to His followers, “You are the light of the world, let your light so shire before men, that they may see your good works and glorify you Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14. All of creation was designed to bring God glory. Romans 1:20. We need to let the light of Christ shine through us, just as it shines through all of creation. This world is so lost. Romans 1:22 says, “Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools.” The world has a great need, and that is for Christians to proclaim the good news and let our light shine. We should not be ashamed of Christ. God has chosen us to give this good news of the Gospel. God loves the world, and He wants every person to give Him glory.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Further reading:
Isaiah 43:6-7
2 Corinthians 4:7
Focus Verse: Romans 1:5 “Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey Him, bringing glory to His name.
I have heard the definition that "darkness is the absence of light.” God is Light and His light is in all those who believe and follow Him. As God’s children we should let our lights shine in this dark world. Jesus said to His followers, “You are the light of the world, let your light so shire before men, that they may see your good works and glorify you Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14. All of creation was designed to bring God glory. Romans 1:20. We need to let the light of Christ shine through us, just as it shines through all of creation. This world is so lost. Romans 1:22 says, “Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools.” The world has a great need, and that is for Christians to proclaim the good news and let our light shine. We should not be ashamed of Christ. God has chosen us to give this good news of the Gospel. God loves the world, and He wants every person to give Him glory.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Further reading:
Isaiah 43:6-7
2 Corinthians 4:7
Friday, January 25, 2019
The Great Exchange
Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
Focus Verses: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a price. So you must honor God with your body.”
As a child of God you do not own your body. Jesus sacrifice paid for your freedom from sin, death and hell. A great exchange took place when you put your faith in Christ. What’s yours became His, and what’s His became yours. All the riches of God became ours when Jesus came into our life. And our body, our life, is the most important thing we have to offer God. But be careful or pride can get in the way of this great exchange. Pride can resist the direction God has for your life.
This great exchange can bring a peace to a Christian’s life that the world cannot understand. The world sees this exchange as binding, but in reality it is freedom. This exchange has taken away the bondage of sin, and frees us to honor God with our bodies. Let’s not forget to share with a lost world how this exchange can bring peace, joy and freedom that can only be found in Christ.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verses: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a price. So you must honor God with your body.”
As a child of God you do not own your body. Jesus sacrifice paid for your freedom from sin, death and hell. A great exchange took place when you put your faith in Christ. What’s yours became His, and what’s His became yours. All the riches of God became ours when Jesus came into our life. And our body, our life, is the most important thing we have to offer God. But be careful or pride can get in the way of this great exchange. Pride can resist the direction God has for your life.
This great exchange can bring a peace to a Christian’s life that the world cannot understand. The world sees this exchange as binding, but in reality it is freedom. This exchange has taken away the bondage of sin, and frees us to honor God with our bodies. Let’s not forget to share with a lost world how this exchange can bring peace, joy and freedom that can only be found in Christ.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, January 18, 2019
Naked Obedience
Bible reading: Isaiah 20
Focus Verse: "Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.” Philippians 2:14-16
Isaiah was a humble prophet as well as a poet whose very name means “Yahweh Is Salvation” and he worked tirelessly to turn the people back to God. He was a true servant of the Lord and had a connection with God that sparked during an encounter with the Lord at the Temple where he received an anointing in chapter 6. Ministry should always start with a personal relationship with God and not from our own ideas and efforts because we are utterly inadequate without Him. His ministry is characterized by his willingness to present God’s messages obediently. We see in Isaiah 5 that he boldly announces God’s judgement on the nation Judah, that although God cared for it as a Father, the people were following their own ways and faced judgement. Surely, he was not popular for announcing that message. By chapter 20, God had even asked Isaiah to remove the sackcloth from his body and the sandals from his feet and to remain naked and barefoot for three years as a sign of the fate that awaited Egypt at the hands of Assyrians. God brought this to pass that the Egyptians were taken away in shame, naked and barefoot, into exile and captivity.
Isaiah was willing to be obedient unto the Lord God even unto nakedness, for the glory of His Lord. Some of us are not even bold enough to obey the simple things that God asks of us. It takes effort to make changes in our life in order to walk in obedience. Many in the world will not understand when we love our enemy, read our Bibles, pray with others, give to our neighbors, share the Gospel of Hope, go to church, abstain from evil activities and care for the things that God cares for. How many of us face the opportunity to be bold enough to obey God when the world doesn’t understand and even reject us? He is not likely to ask you to be naked for 3 years, but maybe there is something that He is asking of you?
Isaiah’s ministry ends with the message of the hope of restoration and the coming of the Messiah (Jesus). God is giving you a way back to Him because He has a heart for you and a heart for the world. He made a way through Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life to walk in obedience. Where do you need to unashamedly walk in obedience?
Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verse: "Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.” Philippians 2:14-16
Isaiah was a humble prophet as well as a poet whose very name means “Yahweh Is Salvation” and he worked tirelessly to turn the people back to God. He was a true servant of the Lord and had a connection with God that sparked during an encounter with the Lord at the Temple where he received an anointing in chapter 6. Ministry should always start with a personal relationship with God and not from our own ideas and efforts because we are utterly inadequate without Him. His ministry is characterized by his willingness to present God’s messages obediently. We see in Isaiah 5 that he boldly announces God’s judgement on the nation Judah, that although God cared for it as a Father, the people were following their own ways and faced judgement. Surely, he was not popular for announcing that message. By chapter 20, God had even asked Isaiah to remove the sackcloth from his body and the sandals from his feet and to remain naked and barefoot for three years as a sign of the fate that awaited Egypt at the hands of Assyrians. God brought this to pass that the Egyptians were taken away in shame, naked and barefoot, into exile and captivity.
Isaiah was willing to be obedient unto the Lord God even unto nakedness, for the glory of His Lord. Some of us are not even bold enough to obey the simple things that God asks of us. It takes effort to make changes in our life in order to walk in obedience. Many in the world will not understand when we love our enemy, read our Bibles, pray with others, give to our neighbors, share the Gospel of Hope, go to church, abstain from evil activities and care for the things that God cares for. How many of us face the opportunity to be bold enough to obey God when the world doesn’t understand and even reject us? He is not likely to ask you to be naked for 3 years, but maybe there is something that He is asking of you?
Isaiah’s ministry ends with the message of the hope of restoration and the coming of the Messiah (Jesus). God is giving you a way back to Him because He has a heart for you and a heart for the world. He made a way through Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life to walk in obedience. Where do you need to unashamedly walk in obedience?
Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, January 11, 2019
Doing Hard Things
Scripture Reading: Genesis 18:1-15
Focus Verses: Genesis 18:14 “Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” Jeremiah 32:27 “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?”
Our December camp in Kenya had the theme “Nothing is too hard for God.” Many people don’t like doing hard things. They put them off to do later. For me, I like to go ahead do them, and put it behind me. Like hard conversations with people, going to the doctor, hard financial decisions. These things are not fun. But the hard things in life give us an opportunity to trust God about them.
God told Abraham and Sarah something that was hard to believe. God promised them a son in their old age. Hebrews 11:11 says, “And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered Him faithful who had made the promise.”
What are some hard things you are facing this year? Is it a failing marriage you need to do something about? Is it hard financial decisions you know you should make? Maybe it’s a hard conversation you know you need to have with your employer because of a situation at your work. Maybe it’s a temptation, and yielding to that temptation to do something wrong, and you know you need to put a hard stop to it. Some of us face really hard things we know we need to do. Trust God to help you. God wants an opportunity to show Himself faithful to you. God wants to show you that He is stronger than the hard things you face. He wants to help you make the hard choices.
Faith, is what can get you through the hard things. By faith, you can believe what the Lord has said. Just like Abraham and Sarah by faith believed what the Lord had said. Jesus is with you, not only through the good times, but most importantly through the hard difficult times. In Luke 18:27 Jesus said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” Pray for God to give you the strength and courage to do the hard things.
Extra Reading: Job 42:2, Isaiah 40:29, Jeremiah 32:17, Luke 1:37, Romans 4:21
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verses: Genesis 18:14 “Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” Jeremiah 32:27 “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?”
Our December camp in Kenya had the theme “Nothing is too hard for God.” Many people don’t like doing hard things. They put them off to do later. For me, I like to go ahead do them, and put it behind me. Like hard conversations with people, going to the doctor, hard financial decisions. These things are not fun. But the hard things in life give us an opportunity to trust God about them.
God told Abraham and Sarah something that was hard to believe. God promised them a son in their old age. Hebrews 11:11 says, “And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered Him faithful who had made the promise.”
What are some hard things you are facing this year? Is it a failing marriage you need to do something about? Is it hard financial decisions you know you should make? Maybe it’s a hard conversation you know you need to have with your employer because of a situation at your work. Maybe it’s a temptation, and yielding to that temptation to do something wrong, and you know you need to put a hard stop to it. Some of us face really hard things we know we need to do. Trust God to help you. God wants an opportunity to show Himself faithful to you. God wants to show you that He is stronger than the hard things you face. He wants to help you make the hard choices.
Faith, is what can get you through the hard things. By faith, you can believe what the Lord has said. Just like Abraham and Sarah by faith believed what the Lord had said. Jesus is with you, not only through the good times, but most importantly through the hard difficult times. In Luke 18:27 Jesus said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” Pray for God to give you the strength and courage to do the hard things.
Extra Reading: Job 42:2, Isaiah 40:29, Jeremiah 32:17, Luke 1:37, Romans 4:21
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, January 4, 2019
Simple Truth
Scripture Reading: John 15:9-17
Focus Verses: John 15:5 & 9 “I am the vine, you are the branches, He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit, for without Me you can do nothing. As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you, abide in My love.”
Dr. Karl Barth was a great theologian. Some have regarded him as the greatest theologian of the twentieth century. One day he was teaching a seminary class and one of his students asked him this question. "What is the greatest truth in all the world?" All of the students sat on the edge of their seats anticipating what great, profound answer this great theologian would give. Dr. Barth thought for a moment, then said, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”
Do you know that most of the world does not know this simple truth: Jesus loves you and Jesus loves me. You will have a much better 2019 if you will remember that Jesus loves you. As human beings one of our greatest needs is to be loved. To be loved by the God who created the universe and knows us completely is really special. Another truth that most people in the world don’t know, is that without God they can DO NOTHING. For every person on earth, it is true that God gives the next breath. It is God who gives the next heartbeat. Many people give God no acknowlegement for anything, yet it is He who keeps them alive. God desires for people to love Him and worship Him.
In 2019, let us be mindful and remember that God loves us so very much and cares about us, for without God we can do nothing. Let us honor, glorify and worship Him everyday and in all things.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Other scripture:
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Romans 8:37-39 - No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Ephesians 2:4-5 - But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved ...
Romans 5:8 - but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Zephaniah 3:17 - The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.
1 Peter 5:6-7 - Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
Focus Verses: John 15:5 & 9 “I am the vine, you are the branches, He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit, for without Me you can do nothing. As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you, abide in My love.”
Dr. Karl Barth was a great theologian. Some have regarded him as the greatest theologian of the twentieth century. One day he was teaching a seminary class and one of his students asked him this question. "What is the greatest truth in all the world?" All of the students sat on the edge of their seats anticipating what great, profound answer this great theologian would give. Dr. Barth thought for a moment, then said, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”
Do you know that most of the world does not know this simple truth: Jesus loves you and Jesus loves me. You will have a much better 2019 if you will remember that Jesus loves you. As human beings one of our greatest needs is to be loved. To be loved by the God who created the universe and knows us completely is really special. Another truth that most people in the world don’t know, is that without God they can DO NOTHING. For every person on earth, it is true that God gives the next breath. It is God who gives the next heartbeat. Many people give God no acknowlegement for anything, yet it is He who keeps them alive. God desires for people to love Him and worship Him.
In 2019, let us be mindful and remember that God loves us so very much and cares about us, for without God we can do nothing. Let us honor, glorify and worship Him everyday and in all things.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Other scripture:
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Romans 8:37-39 - No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Ephesians 2:4-5 - But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved ...
Romans 5:8 - but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Zephaniah 3:17 - The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.
1 Peter 5:6-7 - Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
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