God Communicates Through His Word

Scripture Reading: John 1:1-18

Focus Verse: John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Some people say they pray and read the Bible, but God never says anything back to them.  To that person I would say the Bible is the voice of God talking to us.  The Bible is His love letter to every person on earth.  Maybe some people think God is not speaking unless they have this big emotional experience.  God’s Word is also the road map for life.  If we will take the time to read it, we will discover our purpose for life, and the pathway God wants us to take.  Most importantly, God also reveals to us through His Word and gives understanding by the Holy Spirit concerning many things about Himself and how to have a relationship with Him. 

Further Reading:

2 Timothy 3:16  "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness so that we can be equipped for every good work.”

Jeremiah 15:16 “When I discovered your words, I devoured them.  They are my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God of Heavens’s Armies.”

Hebrews 4:12 “For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

 

Don’t let Satan fool you into thinking God doesn’t speak to us.  He surely does, and most of the time it’s directly through His Word.  

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Can We Trust our Money?

Can We Trust our Money?

Scripture Reading: Matthew 6:19-34

Focus Verse: Matthew 6:24  “No one can serve two masters.  For you will hate one and love the other, or you will be devoted to one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.”

Jesus probably talked about money more than any other subject.  One reason is that He knows the temptation that we face of putting our trust in money.  I think the founding fathers of America also knew this, because on every piece of US cash is written, “In God We Trust”. No matter how much cash we  have, our temptation is to always try and get a little bit more.  Although it is wise for us to do financial planning for the future, if this becomes so important in our lives that we are no longer dependent on God, then there is a problem.  When you are totally concerned about your need for more money, that’s when you are placing your trust in money and not in God.  Do you think you can trust money and God at the same time?  The answer is no.  Jesus clearly said, “no one can serve two masters".  God is trustworthy, money is not trustworthy.  

We all need cash to live.  We cannot survive without it.  Someone wiser than me once said, “money is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master.”  When money takes control of your life, you turn into someone you don’t want to be.  The Bible never says that it is wrong to have money or even a lot of money.  But when your money has control of you, that’s wrong. When you have a love for money, you will never have enough.

Here are some things you can do so that your money doesn’t take control of your life.  First, be thankful to God for the way He meets your needs.  Second, you can be a generous giver to the Lord and to those in need.  Third, discover your true treasure.   You will know that your trust is in the Lord, and not in your money when your treasure in heaven exceeds your treasure on earth. People that are constantly chasing the next shilling or dollar never have peace in their lives.  Philippians 4:7 says “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  So the answer is, no, we can’t trust our money, but we can trust our God.  When you make Jesus your treasure you will find peace and satisfaction and your desires will line up with God's desires.

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

Maintaining A Clean Heart

Scripture Reading: Matthew 15:1-20

Focus Verses: Matthew 15:18-20  “But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man unclean.  For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.  These are what make a man unclean.”

We are faced every day with choices in life.  Sometime we make good choices and sometime we make bad choices.  Our choices come out of our heart.  If you have a clean heart, you will likely make good choices according to God’s Word.  Our focus verses give us a list of things that make up a dirty heart.  When I say "heart", I don’t mean the organ in your chest that pumps blood.  I’m talking about the inside part of you that drives your words and deeds.  Here on earth we will struggle with making right decisions until we see Jesus face-to-face in heaven.  However making good decisions is possible with an intimate relationship with Christ.  Psalm 25:21 says, “May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you.”  Intimacy with God leads to integrity which allows God to create a clean heart in me. 

Some people think they can have a divided heart both good and bad.  But this can’t happen. If you have an avocado that is rotten and bad, and you put it into a basket of good ones, will it then become good?  No!  1 Corinthians 15:33 says, “Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for bad company corrupts good character.”  We are to live a life of self-control and be alert because we have an enemy, the devil.  1 Peter 5:8-9 describes him this way.  “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith.”   It’s not always easy to make right choices in this day and time but it is possible with God.  The Bible says we are to clothe ourselves with humility.  1 Peter 5:5-6 says, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.”  Keeping a clean heart is a battle we all face.  “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.”  Hebrews 10:22.  As Christ followers, maintaining a relationship with God can help maintain a clean heart... and that is something we must do.

May our prayer be, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." Psalm 51:10

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries

Pride Brings Destruction

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 16:18-33

Focus Verse: Proverbs 16:18  “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”

I don’t really like to be around people who are prideful.  These are people who think they are better than everyone else.  They think they know more than everyone else.  They think they are more important than everyone else.  But watch out! If we are not careful, we can be the ones who are prideful.   Satan can trick you into thinking you are better, know more, have more things and are more important than everyone else.  Here’s what Jesus has to say about pride in Luke 14:11 “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”  God is not happy when we have prideful attitudes.  Pride is what led to Lucifer being thrown out of heaven.  

As children of God we are to humble ourselves before God and man.  Don’t take credit for what has been accomplished in your life, but give the credit to God.  Jesus said, “without me you can do nothing.”  How can we take the credit, when it is God who gives us our next breath and our next heart beat?  Let’s remember that it is much better for us to humble ourselves than for God to humble us, because just as the Bible says, pride always brings destruction. 

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Human or Spirit Led?

Scripture Reading: Galatians 5:13-26

Focus verse: "As for you, my friends, you were called to be free. But do not let this freedom become an excuse for letting your physical desires control you. Instead, let love make you serve one another." Galatians 5:13

Jesus called to me and I said, "Yes, Lord".  I began to follow Him and was set free from my sins.  He made me into a new creation, a new "me" that lives with His Spirit in me.  I found the fruits of the Holy Spirit nature coming into my life.  But sometimes, the human, selfish nature comes out in front and I fail.

In my freedom, I do not give excuses for following my own selfish desires.  I need to realize that my human nature will lie to me and so will the enemy.  My human nature will lead me astray and will not honor God.  My human nature will lead me to anger, jealousy, selfish ambition, fighting, and separation from other believers.  If I follow my human nature long enough, I can become blinded by it and fall deeper into sin.  I will blame others and make excuses for my decisions and actions.  I will not even see the pit that I am in, until suddenly, God makes it clear.

I need to decide every day to love, forgive and serve others.  This is what the Spirit produces:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control. Is this what my life looks like?  You can not follow selfish human desires and the Spirit at the same time.

Today is a good day to examine your life.  Do you see the fruits of human nature or the fruits of Spirit nature?  Commit to spend some time in prayer today about anything that you need to change in your life.  Ask God to show you how He sees your life.  Allow Him to change your heart so that you can change any actions that need to come under the Spirit's control.

~Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Steady as She Goes

Scripture Reading:  Hebrews 3: 7-15

Focus Verse:  Hebrews 3:14  “We have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.”

"Steady as she goes” is a saying that is used by sea captains on the open ocean.  Many times they would say this as their ship is progressing onward in a steady manner and no corrections are needed.  Can a sea captain say this even when being pounded by a storm?  Even though the storm is relentless against the ship, they could continue forward making steady progress.  

Hebrews tells us that we can have the confidence of Christ in our lives no matter how the storm is raging all around us.  For those of us who are children of God, we have the eternal security of knowing that Jesus has all things under His control.  Nothing comes across our path that is not allowed by Him.  We should abide in Christ no matter what comes at us.  We can be steady in the way we follow Christ and continue to make spiritual progress.  

We know this life on earth is temporary, and that we have an eternal home that is waiting for us.  When you continue "steady as she goes" in this life with Christ, it confirms your relationship with Him.  We are called to be beacons of hope in the storms of this lost and dying world and others may follow our example.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Forgiven to Forgive

Bible Reading: Colossians 3:1-17
Focus verse: "God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy." Matthew 5:7

Colossians 3:13 says, "Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others."

When we are born again, we begin a new life in Christ.  Colossians 3 teaches us so much about that new life.  We don't have to hate, hold a grudge or take revenge.  Jesus forgave us and we must also learn to forgive others.

Forgiving someone is a decision, not an emotion.  It is a decision based on our worship of our Heavenly Father and honoring His command for us. It is a decision to release that person from your right to punish or take revenge.  It is showing mercy.  

Sometimes you decide to forgive and then your emotions of anger return and challenge your decision.  You must then continue to make the decision again and again.  
  
If you are a new believer or if this is a big challenge to you, you should seek God.  Read the Bible, pray and ask stronger believers to pray with you about it.  God will give you success in time.

Remember, you sinned against God and deserve Hell.  God, in His mercy and through your submission to Him, forgave you of your sin against Him.  Surely you can forgive others.  God's command is for our own good.  When you forgive, you will find freedom.  The burden is lifted and you realize that your unforgiveness was only hurting yourself.

Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries