Where Should a Missionary Go?

Scripture Reading: Matthew 24:1-14

Focus Verse: Matthew 24:14
"And this Gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come."

We continue on our four week devotional series about missionaries.  Today we will answer the question where should a missionary go to share the Gospel message?  Our focus verse says "all the nations."  2 Peter 3:9 says "the Lord is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."  If God is not willing that any should perish, then everybody needs to hear the Gospel.  Everybody needs Jesus. 

Over ten years ago God opened my eyes to the fact that many Americans have been given numerous opportunities to accept the Gospel.  In 2001 on a trip to Kenya, Africa I came to realize that many people in other parts of the world have not been given the same opportunity.  It is now my goal to share this life changing message of the Gospel with as many of these people as I can.

Our focus verse says that there is an end coming.  One day this world will come to an end.  Then it will be too late to tell anyone else about Jesus.  Jesus said that His Gospel will be preached in every nation.  You must understand that you don't need to travel a long distance to share Jesus with someone.  God may lead you to speak to the lost people in your community.  The Gospel is only good news if it gets there in time.  Many people die everyday having never heard.  It is up to us to tell them.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

When Does a Missionary Share the Gospel?

Scripture Reading:  Acts 8:26-38,  Jonah 1:1-17

Focus Verse: "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be  ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; " 1 Peter 3:15

Last week we looked at who is a missionary and what does a missionary do.  This week we want to look at when does a missionary share the Gospel?  The short answer is: anytime.  The Bible says we are to always be ready to share God's love.  1 Peter 3:15 says "If you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.  There is no bad time to tell someone about Jesus.

Sometimes God tells us specifically when to share.  There are two examples in the Bible that come to mind:  An angel of the Lord came to Phillip and told him to travel to the desert.  There he was to preach Jesus to a man from Ethiopia.  Phillip obeyed immediately.  The other example is Jonah.  God asked him to go to the wicked city of Nineveh.  Jonah disobeyed and went in the opposite direction.  But he did later obey, and many trusted in God from that city.

Let us be like Phillip and obey as soon as God gives us a mission to share His Gospel.  We should be attentive to God's leading for us to speak with others that have never heard the good news. 

~Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Who Is A Missionary and What Do They Do?

Scripture Reading:  Romans 10:5-17

Focus Verse:  Romans 10:14 
"How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?"

Over the next several weeks I would like us to take a look at the: who, what, when, where, and why of a missionary.  Today we want to discover who is a missionary and what does a missionary do?  This may surprise you, but if you are a believer in Jesus Christ you are supposed to be a missionary. Jesus has commissioned every Christian to spread the Good News.  This is a command to take the Gospel into all the world. Matthew 28:19.  Some people think that a missionary is someone that quits their job and travels to a far away place to tell others of Christ.  Yes that is one type of missionary.  But a missionary is also a lady who walks down to the lake where her friend is washing dishes, and shares Christ love with her. 

Now what does a missionary do?  First of all they are prepared with the message they are to deliver.  Peter says we are to be prepared to give an answer to everyone about the hope that is in us.  So a missionary takes the Gospel somewhere to share it.  You do not need to cross an ocean to share the Gospel.  You can share this good news with the person that lives next to you, or the friend you go to school with. When we understand the eternal importance of the message we have it will be easier for us to share it.  Be a missionary today.

~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 me.  I began to follow Him and was set free from my sins.  I find the fruits of the Spirit nature coming in my life.  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.  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 anything that needs to change.  Allow Him to change your heart so that you can change your actions.

~Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

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What is Evil?

Scripture reading: James 4:13-17

Focus verse: "that nation that turns to evil and refuses to obey me, I will not bless it as I said I would." Jeremiah 18:10

Mostly, when people think of evil, they think of things like murder, theft and lying. However, in Jeremiah 18:10 God is speaking to the people and says that a nation (or person) does evil by not obeying His voice. Simply put, disobedience is evil in God's sight. This means disobedience to His word, disobedience of parents, disobedience of authorities over us.

Then, James, the brother of Jesus, tells us that if we know the right thing to do, but don't do it, that is also sin. Some examples of knowing the right thing to do but not doing it could be taking care of someone in need, or studying God's Word every day, or praying about something we promised to pray about.

As you go through the day, see things that happen as opportunities to obey God's voice. In order to obey His voice, we have to know His word and what it says.

Spend time studying God's word and find ways to obey what He says. Then, when you know the right thing to do, do it! And in doing so, you will please God.

by Amy Warr
(friend of Mfangano and supporter of Interlocking Ministries)

Laughing all the way to Heaven

Bible reading: Psalm 139

Focus verse: Proverbs 29:25..."The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe."

            For many years of my life I was worried about what people thought of me.  I covered my insecurity many times with humor.  I thought if I could make people laugh at what I said they really would never know the real me.

Believe it or not, it worked.  The problem was it didn't last and I was worn out trying to be someone I really was not.  Laughter is great but it must come from a sincere heart not a means of control.

Then, I met Jesus, and I slowly began to find out who I really was "in Him"  My insecurities began to dissolve as I put my trust in The only one who truly knows me, and guess what, I still make people laugh but now it is from my heart and all the glory goes to Lord...not to me.

Stay focused on the one who will keep you safe and you will never have to wear a mask for other people again.  He will make you the "life of His party" !!!

by Nancy Creagh (friend and supporter of Interlocking Ministries)