Scripture Reading: 1 Kings18: 20-40
Focus Verse: 1 Kings 18: 22 “Then Elijah said to the people, I alone am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty.”
Do you ever feel alone in your life? There’s an old saying, “God plus one is a majority.” A more accurate account is that God plus none is still a majority. God is bigger than anything. God is greater than any who would come against Him.
Elijah knew this when he climbed up Mount Carmel to go against 450 prophets of Baal. Elijah knew that himself plus God was still the majority. This was a true test of faith for Elijah. Are you able to see yourself in the majority when God is on your side? You may not be coming up against 450 prophets of Baal, but you may come up against circumstances where you see no way out. With God on your side there is a way out and there is a solution. Elijah needed for God to show Himself all powerful. The nation of Israel needed to see the power of God demonstrated against the false prophets of Baal. Because Elijah had asked them in verse 22, “how long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him, but if Baal, follow him.” The prophets of Baal called to their god. No answer. In fact, they called all day and there was no answer because they were calling to a god that is not alive. Then Elijah said in verse 37, “O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again." Verse 38, "Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, the wood, the stones, the dust, and the water." Everyone saw that day that Elijah plus God was the majority.
Don’t hesitate to ask God to be on your side against whatever you are facing. He will be with you and direct you. Remember, with God, all things are possible.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, July 27, 2018
Friday, July 20, 2018
Unshakable Faith
By Shana Schutte - Wisdom Hunters Devotion
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 1 Peter 5:10
During college, Glen House experienced a tragic skiing accident. His plans had been to graduate, go to medical school, and become a surgeon. After hitting an icy run, he flew headlong into a tree and sustained a massive head injury. The results were not good.
Glen was paralyzed.
With minimal use of his arms and hands, handling the delicate instruments and movements of surgery would have been impossible.
But he didn’t give up.
Within a few weeks, Glen returned to school to continue studying medicine. He was still determined to be a doctor—but for others like himself who had spinal cord injuries.
One day after he had started his practice, he was summoned to the hospital room of a new patient, a college student who was paralyzed due to a motorcycle accident. Understandably, the young man was distraught. “I just wanted to have a wife and children. I wanted a family.” His face fell.
Glen rolled his wheelchair closer to the young man’s bedside, pulled out his wallet, and retrieved a photo of his wife and two girls. He showed it to the young man. “Well, then get up and have a family,” Glen said.
Glen knew a secret that many of us forget when our hopes for a purposeful and meaningful future are stripped away through loss. He knew that when we have hope and faith in the unshakeable, that we will be unshakeable as well—and our confidence for a meaningful and purposeful future will remain intact.
If the object of my faith is my ability to sing, and I lose my voice due to an infection, all hope for a purposeful future is lost.
If the object of my faith is my ability to cultivate a happy marriage, but my mate files for divorce, all hope for a purposeful and meaningful future is lost.
If the object of my faith is my ability to be a rock climber, but then I lose that ability through blindness, all hope for a meaningful and purposeful future is lost.
But when the object of my faith is unshakeable, I will be unshakeable as well.
Because nothing can separate you from God’s love, there is nothing that can separate you from the purposes that He has for your life—nothing. Nothing can truly shake you. In this you can have hope and faith—and that is a promise that no one and no circumstance can take away.
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).
Prayer: Lord, how I praise you that because I can never be separated from your love, my life will always have purpose and meaning no matter what happens. Thank you, Lord. Amen.
Application: Reflect on how the Lord has taught you to trust Him over those things that can be shaken.
Additional Reading:
Romans 14:8 “If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”
2 Timothy 1:12 “I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the One in whom I trust, and I am sure that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until the day of His return.”
By Shana Schutte - Wisdom Hunters Devotion subscribe here: https://www.wisdomhunters.com/subscribe/
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 1 Peter 5:10
During college, Glen House experienced a tragic skiing accident. His plans had been to graduate, go to medical school, and become a surgeon. After hitting an icy run, he flew headlong into a tree and sustained a massive head injury. The results were not good.
Glen was paralyzed.
With minimal use of his arms and hands, handling the delicate instruments and movements of surgery would have been impossible.
But he didn’t give up.
Within a few weeks, Glen returned to school to continue studying medicine. He was still determined to be a doctor—but for others like himself who had spinal cord injuries.
One day after he had started his practice, he was summoned to the hospital room of a new patient, a college student who was paralyzed due to a motorcycle accident. Understandably, the young man was distraught. “I just wanted to have a wife and children. I wanted a family.” His face fell.
Glen rolled his wheelchair closer to the young man’s bedside, pulled out his wallet, and retrieved a photo of his wife and two girls. He showed it to the young man. “Well, then get up and have a family,” Glen said.
Glen knew a secret that many of us forget when our hopes for a purposeful and meaningful future are stripped away through loss. He knew that when we have hope and faith in the unshakeable, that we will be unshakeable as well—and our confidence for a meaningful and purposeful future will remain intact.
If the object of my faith is my ability to sing, and I lose my voice due to an infection, all hope for a purposeful future is lost.
If the object of my faith is my ability to cultivate a happy marriage, but my mate files for divorce, all hope for a purposeful and meaningful future is lost.
If the object of my faith is my ability to be a rock climber, but then I lose that ability through blindness, all hope for a meaningful and purposeful future is lost.
But when the object of my faith is unshakeable, I will be unshakeable as well.
Because nothing can separate you from God’s love, there is nothing that can separate you from the purposes that He has for your life—nothing. Nothing can truly shake you. In this you can have hope and faith—and that is a promise that no one and no circumstance can take away.
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).
Prayer: Lord, how I praise you that because I can never be separated from your love, my life will always have purpose and meaning no matter what happens. Thank you, Lord. Amen.
Application: Reflect on how the Lord has taught you to trust Him over those things that can be shaken.
Additional Reading:
Romans 14:8 “If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”
2 Timothy 1:12 “I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the One in whom I trust, and I am sure that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until the day of His return.”
By Shana Schutte - Wisdom Hunters Devotion subscribe here: https://www.wisdomhunters.com/subscribe/
Friday, July 13, 2018
Do More Than Expected
Scripture Reading: Philemon 1:8-22
Focus Verse: Philemon 1:21 “Confident of our obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.”
We should try to do more than is expected of us, because that is what Christ has done for us. God doesn’t do anything halfway. When God does something for us He exceeds our expectations. Ephesians 3:20-21 "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." So when God asks us to do something let’s try and do it with passion and exceed expectations. You can also exceed expectations at work. When others see you working hard, they may ask you why, and this gives you opportunity to witness for Christ. You may get a promotion at work when you exceed expectations. Employers will often reward hard work with a promotion and increase pay. The apostle Paul noticed when expectations where exceeded.
He writes in 2 Corinthians 8:3 “For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own.”
Marriage is another place where you can serve beyond what is expected of you. Have you ever tried to serve your spouse more than they serve you? Nobody has ever complained that their spouse loves and respects them too much. Exceeding expectation in your home will give you a happy home. Your home is not about you it’s about others in your home. When you serve others, most times you will then see others begin to serve you. We don’t keep score to see who serves the most, but we can serve so others will see in us the example God has set before us.
God has asked us to give a 10% tithe. What would happen if you exceeded expectations and gave 12% or 15%? Do you think you would go bankrupt? I don’t think so, God would probably exceed expectation in your life. So let’s exceed expectations in someones life and see what happens.
2 Corinthians 8:5 “They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.”
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verse: Philemon 1:21 “Confident of our obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.”
We should try to do more than is expected of us, because that is what Christ has done for us. God doesn’t do anything halfway. When God does something for us He exceeds our expectations. Ephesians 3:20-21 "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." So when God asks us to do something let’s try and do it with passion and exceed expectations. You can also exceed expectations at work. When others see you working hard, they may ask you why, and this gives you opportunity to witness for Christ. You may get a promotion at work when you exceed expectations. Employers will often reward hard work with a promotion and increase pay. The apostle Paul noticed when expectations where exceeded.
He writes in 2 Corinthians 8:3 “For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own.”
Marriage is another place where you can serve beyond what is expected of you. Have you ever tried to serve your spouse more than they serve you? Nobody has ever complained that their spouse loves and respects them too much. Exceeding expectation in your home will give you a happy home. Your home is not about you it’s about others in your home. When you serve others, most times you will then see others begin to serve you. We don’t keep score to see who serves the most, but we can serve so others will see in us the example God has set before us.
God has asked us to give a 10% tithe. What would happen if you exceeded expectations and gave 12% or 15%? Do you think you would go bankrupt? I don’t think so, God would probably exceed expectation in your life. So let’s exceed expectations in someones life and see what happens.
2 Corinthians 8:5 “They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.”
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, July 6, 2018
Confidence in God as We Face Difficulties
Scripture Reading: Habakkuk 3
Focus Verses: Habakkuk 3:17-18 "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior."
There has been some research done about why people leave their faith in Christ. Many times it is because people were disappointed because their expectation of God was not being met. They prayed for something and their prayers seemed to go unanswered or were not answered the way they wanted them to be answered. So basically these people are saying “God has not done things the way I think they should be done." Or there saying “I know how things should be done better than God.” Let’s remember Jesus never promised that this life would be without pain and suffering. Those days won’t come until we get to heaven. If you can only love God when everything is going good for you then your Christian life will be a disappointment. Our Christian life doesn’t work because we always get what we want. It works because Jesus is always with us to help us get through the hard times. He will never leave us. There will be times when God will answer your prayers the way you want, and we can be thankful for that, but when He doesn’t, you can trust that God has a better plan that He is working out in your life. That’s where faith and trust come in as well as learning to rejoice in our Savior. So let’s always live knowing that God is doing what is best for us. “The righteous will live by faith” Romans 1:7 And God is worthy of our faith. Habakkuk never forgot the power and might of God and recounts it in the first part of the prayer in Chapter 3 as he asks God for help.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verses: Habakkuk 3:17-18 "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior."
There has been some research done about why people leave their faith in Christ. Many times it is because people were disappointed because their expectation of God was not being met. They prayed for something and their prayers seemed to go unanswered or were not answered the way they wanted them to be answered. So basically these people are saying “God has not done things the way I think they should be done." Or there saying “I know how things should be done better than God.” Let’s remember Jesus never promised that this life would be without pain and suffering. Those days won’t come until we get to heaven. If you can only love God when everything is going good for you then your Christian life will be a disappointment. Our Christian life doesn’t work because we always get what we want. It works because Jesus is always with us to help us get through the hard times. He will never leave us. There will be times when God will answer your prayers the way you want, and we can be thankful for that, but when He doesn’t, you can trust that God has a better plan that He is working out in your life. That’s where faith and trust come in as well as learning to rejoice in our Savior. So let’s always live knowing that God is doing what is best for us. “The righteous will live by faith” Romans 1:7 And God is worthy of our faith. Habakkuk never forgot the power and might of God and recounts it in the first part of the prayer in Chapter 3 as he asks God for help.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Saturday, June 30, 2018
Always Trusting God
Always Trusting God
Scripture Reading: Psalm 18:30-50
Focus Verses: Psalm 18:30-32 “As for God, His way is perfect, the word of the Lord is proven, He is a shield to all who trust in Him. For who is God, except the Lord? And who is a rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect.”
God’s ways will always be much higher than our ways. Why is that? Because God is all knowing and all powerful. No one knows more than God, and no one is more powerful than God. This is the God that created the universe with everything we see. He cares for you individually and loves you individually. Today’s verses tell us that God’s ways are complete. God is our shield, our defense, and our rock when we place our faith in Him. God Almighty is a sure foundation that can not be shaken, not even by Satan himself. The Lord our God can be completely trusted at all times. Even when we don’t understand what is going on, God can still be completely trusted. Where else can you turn when troubles arise? It only makes sense to turn to the most powerful One. So trust God at all times and walk in His ways. Obey what He says in His word. There is no one like our God. You can always and completely trust Him.
What area of your life are you needing to trust God more than trusting your own strength?
Additional study of the life of Gideon and God's ways in Judges chapters 6-7
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Scripture Reading: Psalm 18:30-50
Focus Verses: Psalm 18:30-32 “As for God, His way is perfect, the word of the Lord is proven, He is a shield to all who trust in Him. For who is God, except the Lord? And who is a rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect.”
God’s ways will always be much higher than our ways. Why is that? Because God is all knowing and all powerful. No one knows more than God, and no one is more powerful than God. This is the God that created the universe with everything we see. He cares for you individually and loves you individually. Today’s verses tell us that God’s ways are complete. God is our shield, our defense, and our rock when we place our faith in Him. God Almighty is a sure foundation that can not be shaken, not even by Satan himself. The Lord our God can be completely trusted at all times. Even when we don’t understand what is going on, God can still be completely trusted. Where else can you turn when troubles arise? It only makes sense to turn to the most powerful One. So trust God at all times and walk in His ways. Obey what He says in His word. There is no one like our God. You can always and completely trust Him.
What area of your life are you needing to trust God more than trusting your own strength?
Additional study of the life of Gideon and God's ways in Judges chapters 6-7
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, June 22, 2018
Thanks Jude
Thanks Jude
Bible Reading: Jude
Focus verse: "I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ." Jude 4
Jude, the half-brother of Jesus, wrote a letter to those who are together in the salvation of Jesus. He really wanted to send a letter rejoicing in their common salvation, but could sense that he should be sending some warnings as well. The first warning is to strive to keep the gospel pure and not distorted. He wants you to check what preachers teach to see if they match up to the Bible, the original writings. False teachers will be plentiful in the last days. It's interesting that the book of Jude comes before Revelation in the Bible. There are many who claim to speak for God today.
How can you find the true preachers? How do you notice a false teacher?
First, you must study the Word of God for yourself. When you know the truth, you will recognize a lie.
Second, be sure of their views are right on who Jesus is, the trinity, repentance and Christ's work of redemption for salvation. Matthew 16:15-16 Is the Gospel part of their message or does it seem incomplete or perverted?
Third, look for the fruit of a Christian in their lives. Matthew 12:33 Do you see a heart that is affected by the Holy Spirit in their lives. Nobody is perfect, but do their lives show fruits of the Spirit? Galatians 5:22-23 Do you see humility or pride?
Fourth, are they teaching from the Bible or their own ideas and thoughts of what is reasonable to them? It may sound good, but our hearts can deceive us. The Bible says "Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son." 2 John 9 Remember that at false teacher can have good intentions, but in the end, they are a tool of the enemy
Thanks Jude, for the warnings, caution and encouragement! We must be aware of false teachers and the dangers of following them. We must remain faithful to the true Gospel and encourage one another. We must show mercy to those whose faith wavers, rescue some from judgement, show mercy to people while hating the sin that contaminates their lives. May God have glory in our lives as he keeps us completely His forever.
~Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Bible Reading: Jude
Focus verse: "I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ." Jude 4
Jude, the half-brother of Jesus, wrote a letter to those who are together in the salvation of Jesus. He really wanted to send a letter rejoicing in their common salvation, but could sense that he should be sending some warnings as well. The first warning is to strive to keep the gospel pure and not distorted. He wants you to check what preachers teach to see if they match up to the Bible, the original writings. False teachers will be plentiful in the last days. It's interesting that the book of Jude comes before Revelation in the Bible. There are many who claim to speak for God today.
How can you find the true preachers? How do you notice a false teacher?
First, you must study the Word of God for yourself. When you know the truth, you will recognize a lie.
Second, be sure of their views are right on who Jesus is, the trinity, repentance and Christ's work of redemption for salvation. Matthew 16:15-16 Is the Gospel part of their message or does it seem incomplete or perverted?
Third, look for the fruit of a Christian in their lives. Matthew 12:33 Do you see a heart that is affected by the Holy Spirit in their lives. Nobody is perfect, but do their lives show fruits of the Spirit? Galatians 5:22-23 Do you see humility or pride?
Fourth, are they teaching from the Bible or their own ideas and thoughts of what is reasonable to them? It may sound good, but our hearts can deceive us. The Bible says "Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son." 2 John 9 Remember that at false teacher can have good intentions, but in the end, they are a tool of the enemy
Thanks Jude, for the warnings, caution and encouragement! We must be aware of false teachers and the dangers of following them. We must remain faithful to the true Gospel and encourage one another. We must show mercy to those whose faith wavers, rescue some from judgement, show mercy to people while hating the sin that contaminates their lives. May God have glory in our lives as he keeps us completely His forever.
~Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, June 15, 2018
Remember Who The Enemy Is
Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 6: 1-7
Focus Verse: "For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against persons without bodies—the evil rulers of the unseen world, those mighty satanic beings and great evil princes of darkness who rule this world" Ephesians 6:12
One day I was in a meeting of 12 people. There was a decision to be made and the vote was 9 -3. One of the three people gave a very emotional complaint after the vote because she didn't think the decision was good. Although she doesn't agree, she faced a choice to accept the vote and live in peace or choose to live in discord and maybe anger. One way shows humility, the other is pride.
I realize that people, yes, even believers are not always going to think the same way. They are not always going to agree. Sometimes the matter is small and other times the matter seems to be big. The Bible reading today tells us that nothing on this earth that we argue about is greater than the heavenly judgements to come. God tells us to have unity and love one another in humility.
When you find yourself in a dispute with a fellow Christian, ask yourself if you can accept the way things are with the help of Christ and live in peace. If you can not make peace, rather than brother against brother in court thus shaming the church, it becomes necessary that Christian brother s (sisters) should together seek out a fellow Christian . Even then, if you don't agree... In the end of the scripture 1 Corinthians 6:7 says that it is better to allow yourself to be wronged and cheated than to take a believer to court of unbelievers.
The enemy is not your brother; remember who the enemy REALLY is. The true enemy, Satan and his demons, seek to sow discord in the body of Christ. We do not fight against flesh and blood, but against the unseen enemy of evil.
Further reading: James 4
~Page Johnson
Interlocking Minstries
Focus Verse: "For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against persons without bodies—the evil rulers of the unseen world, those mighty satanic beings and great evil princes of darkness who rule this world" Ephesians 6:12
One day I was in a meeting of 12 people. There was a decision to be made and the vote was 9 -3. One of the three people gave a very emotional complaint after the vote because she didn't think the decision was good. Although she doesn't agree, she faced a choice to accept the vote and live in peace or choose to live in discord and maybe anger. One way shows humility, the other is pride.
I realize that people, yes, even believers are not always going to think the same way. They are not always going to agree. Sometimes the matter is small and other times the matter seems to be big. The Bible reading today tells us that nothing on this earth that we argue about is greater than the heavenly judgements to come. God tells us to have unity and love one another in humility.
When you find yourself in a dispute with a fellow Christian, ask yourself if you can accept the way things are with the help of Christ and live in peace. If you can not make peace, rather than brother against brother in court thus shaming the church, it becomes necessary that Christian brother s (sisters) should together seek out a fellow Christian . Even then, if you don't agree... In the end of the scripture 1 Corinthians 6:7 says that it is better to allow yourself to be wronged and cheated than to take a believer to court of unbelievers.
The enemy is not your brother; remember who the enemy REALLY is. The true enemy, Satan and his demons, seek to sow discord in the body of Christ. We do not fight against flesh and blood, but against the unseen enemy of evil.
Further reading: James 4
~Page Johnson
Interlocking Minstries
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