Scripture Reading: James 4:1-10
Focus Verses: James 4:7-8 “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.”
God knows how Satan operates better than we do. That’s why God has commanded that we submit to Him and draw near to Him. Jesus told us to pray, “give us this day our daily bread.” John 6:48 tells us that Jesus is the Bread of Life. We need Him every day. We can only allow God to purify us when we spend time with Him. If we do then Romans 6:12 will be easier for us. “Do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.” Sin should have no control over us. The closer we are to God the less power Satan can have over us as God’s
children. We are faced with temptation every day of our lives. Drawing near to God will give us the power to resist this temptation. Keep drawing near.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, February 24, 2017
Friday, February 17, 2017
Test The Spirits To Know Truth
Scripture Reading: 1 John 4:1-6
Focus Verses: 1 John 4:1-3 “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God… By this you know the Spirit of God. Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God.”
Do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. There are many spirits in the world today that are against Christ. These spirits try to hinder the work of the church in every way possible. These spirits attack in many different ways, but one way is to try and get you to question the authority of God’s Word. In the Garden of Eden, Satan got Eve to question the words of God, and therefore she sinned. Satan said, “did God really say you shouldn’t eat of that tree.”
Satan is the Father of Lies, but he will also mix truth with his lies to trick you. Today these evil spirits like to use the word “tolerance”. Satan wants us to tolerate what God calls sin. So how do we distinguish what is truth from heaven, and what are lies from hell? It’s all in the Word of God. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. So look to Him for truth.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verses: 1 John 4:1-3 “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God… By this you know the Spirit of God. Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God.”
Do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. There are many spirits in the world today that are against Christ. These spirits try to hinder the work of the church in every way possible. These spirits attack in many different ways, but one way is to try and get you to question the authority of God’s Word. In the Garden of Eden, Satan got Eve to question the words of God, and therefore she sinned. Satan said, “did God really say you shouldn’t eat of that tree.”
Satan is the Father of Lies, but he will also mix truth with his lies to trick you. Today these evil spirits like to use the word “tolerance”. Satan wants us to tolerate what God calls sin. So how do we distinguish what is truth from heaven, and what are lies from hell? It’s all in the Word of God. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. So look to Him for truth.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Thursday, February 2, 2017
Sufficient Grace
Sufficient Grace
Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Focus Verses: 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
Have you ever experienced what Paul is dealing with here? I sure have. I think all of us at some time in our lives have asked God for something that we have not received. So how do we move to that point, as Paul did, and say “let me look forward to God’s grace being more than sufficient in my life.” Paul had a problem. Some people think it was poor eyesight, epilepsy, or some other chronic illness. Though we don't know his problem, we do know that he asked God three times to heal him. Each time God said that His grace would be enough for Paul. This taught Paul and teaches us today, that God’s grace is always more powerful than any circumstance that we are going through. If we never encounter problems then we never learn lessons and grow spiritually. So let us remember God’s words in the midst of our problems. “My grace is sufficient for you."
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Focus Verses: 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
Have you ever experienced what Paul is dealing with here? I sure have. I think all of us at some time in our lives have asked God for something that we have not received. So how do we move to that point, as Paul did, and say “let me look forward to God’s grace being more than sufficient in my life.” Paul had a problem. Some people think it was poor eyesight, epilepsy, or some other chronic illness. Though we don't know his problem, we do know that he asked God three times to heal him. Each time God said that His grace would be enough for Paul. This taught Paul and teaches us today, that God’s grace is always more powerful than any circumstance that we are going through. If we never encounter problems then we never learn lessons and grow spiritually. So let us remember God’s words in the midst of our problems. “My grace is sufficient for you."
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, January 27, 2017
God's Grace
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2:1-10
Focus Verse: Ephesians 2:8: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, least anyone should boast.”
The United States Constitution protects its citizens from being tried in a court of law for the same crime twice. But God does something for us that is even better than that. Over two thousand years ago God sent His only Son Jesus to die for us so we would not be guilty of any wrongdoing. That is Grace. Jesus paid the price of hell for you and me. But it’s up to us to choose if we will accept the payment Jesus made for us. Sadly there are some rich people, poor people, presidents, teachers, athletes, business owners, and pastors that have never made the decision to trust Jesus. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” That my friend is Grace. The greatest possible gift God could give us is the forgiveness of our sins. GRACE is simply, God’s Riches At Christ Expense.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verse: Ephesians 2:8: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, least anyone should boast.”
The United States Constitution protects its citizens from being tried in a court of law for the same crime twice. But God does something for us that is even better than that. Over two thousand years ago God sent His only Son Jesus to die for us so we would not be guilty of any wrongdoing. That is Grace. Jesus paid the price of hell for you and me. But it’s up to us to choose if we will accept the payment Jesus made for us. Sadly there are some rich people, poor people, presidents, teachers, athletes, business owners, and pastors that have never made the decision to trust Jesus. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” That my friend is Grace. The greatest possible gift God could give us is the forgiveness of our sins. GRACE is simply, God’s Riches At Christ Expense.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Sunday, January 22, 2017
God’s Mercy and His Grace
Scripture Reading: Hebrews 4:14-16
Focus Verses: Hebrews 4:15-16 “This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”
Sometimes we think that God is so different from us and He can’t identify with us. But we must remember that He lived a human life here on earth. He was tempted in all the same ways we are tempted. He suffered and had trials just as we do, but through it all He was victorious. He lived a sinless life. So when He comes to your aid He knows what you need, because He has already gone through it. He knows loneliness, frustration, betrayal, misunderstanding. Because Jesus experienced all these things that we go through, He can now show us mercy and grace. Mercy is God not giving us what we deserve. Grace is God giving us what we don’t deserve. It’s because of His mercy and grace that we can come boldly to Him and ask for His help in time of need. Let us thank The Lord that He can identify with our weakness, and give us help.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verses: Hebrews 4:15-16 “This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”
Sometimes we think that God is so different from us and He can’t identify with us. But we must remember that He lived a human life here on earth. He was tempted in all the same ways we are tempted. He suffered and had trials just as we do, but through it all He was victorious. He lived a sinless life. So when He comes to your aid He knows what you need, because He has already gone through it. He knows loneliness, frustration, betrayal, misunderstanding. Because Jesus experienced all these things that we go through, He can now show us mercy and grace. Mercy is God not giving us what we deserve. Grace is God giving us what we don’t deserve. It’s because of His mercy and grace that we can come boldly to Him and ask for His help in time of need. Let us thank The Lord that He can identify with our weakness, and give us help.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Monday, January 16, 2017
Never Thirst Again
Scripture Reading: John 4:1-26
Focus Verses: John 4:13-14 Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again, but those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”
When Jesus decided to walk through Samaria, the disciples did not think this was a good idea. Jews and Samaritans were not good friends. Jesus even decided to talk with a Samaritan woman at a well. This was unheard of due to the low status of Samaritans and women. Jesus didn’t let any racial divide keep Him from building God’s Kingdom here on earth. Jesus knew everything about this woman, and loved her anyway. He wanted this woman to know her Creator and told her that the water she was drawing from that well would cause her to thirst again, but the water that Jesus was offering her would cause her to never thirst again. The water that we receive at the time of Salvation secures our eternal life in Jesus and is a never ending fountain so we never thirst again. Have you had a drink from this fountain?
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verses: John 4:13-14 Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again, but those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”
When Jesus decided to walk through Samaria, the disciples did not think this was a good idea. Jews and Samaritans were not good friends. Jesus even decided to talk with a Samaritan woman at a well. This was unheard of due to the low status of Samaritans and women. Jesus didn’t let any racial divide keep Him from building God’s Kingdom here on earth. Jesus knew everything about this woman, and loved her anyway. He wanted this woman to know her Creator and told her that the water she was drawing from that well would cause her to thirst again, but the water that Jesus was offering her would cause her to never thirst again. The water that we receive at the time of Salvation secures our eternal life in Jesus and is a never ending fountain so we never thirst again. Have you had a drink from this fountain?
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Saturday, January 7, 2017
The Moment We First Believe
Scripture Reading: John 5:16-30
Focus Verse: John 5:24 “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.”
In our focus verse Jesus tells believers three things that happen when we first believe. First, Jesus says that the new believer has eternal life. Our eternal life starts the moment we believe, not when we die in this earthly body. Second, Jesus told new believers that we will not come into the judgement of God, because Jesus already paid for the penalty for our sins. Thirdly, Jesus is teaching that a new believer has passed from death to life. Without faith, and without trusting God we would face eternal death. Separated from God forever. The only way for us to pass from death to life is to repent from sin, receive this gift of Jesus, that God is offering to us and to trust him as Lord. There is nothing we can do to earn it or deserve it. Have you trusted Jesus or are you still trying to "be good enough"?
More: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTkyOS9fqUE
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verse: John 5:24 “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.”
In our focus verse Jesus tells believers three things that happen when we first believe. First, Jesus says that the new believer has eternal life. Our eternal life starts the moment we believe, not when we die in this earthly body. Second, Jesus told new believers that we will not come into the judgement of God, because Jesus already paid for the penalty for our sins. Thirdly, Jesus is teaching that a new believer has passed from death to life. Without faith, and without trusting God we would face eternal death. Separated from God forever. The only way for us to pass from death to life is to repent from sin, receive this gift of Jesus, that God is offering to us and to trust him as Lord. There is nothing we can do to earn it or deserve it. Have you trusted Jesus or are you still trying to "be good enough"?
More: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTkyOS9fqUE
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
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