How to Receive Endurance, Encouragement, and Hope

by Gregory A. Johnson

Amid this worldwide pandemic, please know that God’s promises given to you in Scripture are true and everlasting. Trusting His Word will get us through every day. You can count on it!

Please allow me to share a short devotion with you that I have written and feel led to share with you:

HOW TO RECEIVE ENDURANCE, ENCOURAGEMENT, AND HOPE 

We live at a time when many exist in a seemingly endless state of hopelessness. The news is filled with stories of wars and rumors of wars, terrorism, anarchy, famine, drought, unemployment, economic recession, depression, disease, sickness, and an epidemic of both financial and spiritual bankruptcy. Uncertainty abounds.

In over the thirty years I have served in the ministry, I have noticed a rapid decline in the hunger for Scripture. Many go to church, but few read, study, and memorize the Bible. Some only receive bless-me-and-make-me-feel-good sermons on Sundays that may encourage them for a brief season, but such light teaching does not build endurance. When a crisis hits, they lose hope.

How to Live Free From Fear

by Gregory A. Johnson

Many in our day live in total control of their lives but when something is shaken, their confidence quickly turns to fear. Jesus describes the day in which we live. He says, "And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken” (Luke 21:25-26 ESV).

What are we to do? We are to look to Jesus. The night before Christ died on the cross for our sins, he showed us how to live free from fear. He was facing a horrendous death by crucifixion. The next day he would be tortured to death. What does he do? He goes to a garden to pray. Jesus prays, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done" (Luke 22:42 ESV).

In the last hours before the cross, Jesus prays, releasing his will over to the Father. Christ faced the cross without fear, placing his life in God’s care, trusting God for the resurrection to come.

The next day, tortured and hanging nailed to the cross, Jesus gives his life for the sins of the world. “Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last” (Luke 23:46 ESV).

How to Guard Your Mouth Even on Social Media

By Gregory A. Johnson

#GuardYourMouthEvenOnSocialMedia

We are living in strange times. People not only say terrible things, but they also post awful things on social media, attacking others. Attacking others is not Christ-following.

Cursing has become commonplace in the post-Christian culture that we live in, even with people in the Christian faith. I’m shocked at what people say and post on social media.

Under the unction of the Spirit, I feel led to remind you that there is a day coming when each person will give account for every word.

Don’t take my word for it; take Jesus’ word. Jesus said, “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak (Matthew 12:36 ESV).”

This should be sobering to us all.

Two Powerful Forces That Will Impact Your Life

By Gregory A. Johnson

There are two powerful forces that will impact your life. One impacts your life negatively and one impacts your life positively. These forces are controlled by you and the choices you make. The negative force will destroy your life and future. The positive force will ensure your success in life, both now and forevermore. These two forces are sin and prayer.

Sin is disobedience to God and his word to us, the Bible. The Bible is full of instruction and commandments, but when asked what commandment was the most important, Jesus answered: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:37-39).

Building Hope Within You

by Gregory A. Johnson

Living in a famine of truth, when all around us in a state of confusion and turmoil with fear abounding, the Lord is our hope. We can always count on him.

The Psalmist in God’s word says, “I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word” (Psalm 130:5).

You can also do that today, friend. You can count on the Lord. You can put your hope in his word. It will get you through whatever comes your way.

Please allow me to give you a good starting point. Get a Bible and read the first four books of the New Testament — Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. As you read, pay attention to how Jesus lives his life and what he teaches. Note the promises Jesus gives to those who will answer the call to follow him. As you follow Jesus, you can stand on these promises. They are for you and all who follow Jesus.

How to Protect You Mind

by Gregory A. Johnson

Please know that you are what you think. Your thinking will control your speech and your actions.

Friend, what consumes your thoughts? What are you thinking about when you are trying to get to sleep at night? What are you thinking about when you awake? What is controlling your thoughts?  Is it impacting your speech and your actions?

Our mind will absorb and retain what we feed it.  If we feed it garbage, it will produce garbage. Garbage in; Garbage out. More in our day than ever, we must protect our mind. We must protect what goes in.

The Promise of Answered Prayer

by Gregory A. Johnson

The Bible, God’s word to us, is full of promises. With those promises come conditions. For example, Jesus says, “if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! (John 15:7, NLT)."

Let’s explore that Scripture. The promise is that our prayers will be answered. The condition attached to that promise is that we are to remain in Jesus and his words remain in us.

As Christ-followers, we know and do what Jesus teaches, continuing his point-of-need ministry in the power of the Holy Spirit. Our prayers will be in accordance with his life and teachings. Our prayers will not conflict with the life and teachings of Jesus. Our prayers will agree with them.

As we pray according to the life and teachings of Jesus, he promises that our prayer requests will be granted. We can stand on that promise. We may not get what we are asking for in our timing, but our prayers will be answered.

How to Live in God's Presence

by Gregory A. Johnson

How does one live in the presence of God? That is a question that many have asked throughout history and many ask today. David wrote in Psalm 15, asking God that question. He says, “Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?” (Psalm 15:1, NIV).

God gives David the answer to his prayerful questioning and David documents it: “He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks truth from his heart.” (Psalm 15:2, NIV).

Let’s think about that answer. First, we are to have a blameless walk. The only way we can have a blameless walk is to keep our focus on Jesus and follow him. As we follow Jesus, he keeps us on the right path.

Second, we are to do what is right. We live in a day when many do not know what is right and what is wrong. We have a famine of leaders in our day who live a life of integrity. How do we do what is right? We make God’s Word, the Bible, the absolute guide for all our actions and beliefs. When we do, we will do what is right.

How to Get a Second Chance in Life

by Gregory A. Johnson

Jesus walked this earth, seeking to save the lost and ministering to people at their point of need. One evening, a religionist came to Jesus. His name was Nicodemus. He had heard Jesus teach and witnessed the miracles of Jesus. No doubt, the Spirit of God is drawing this man to Jesus. Nicodemus tells Jesus, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.”

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

"What do you mean?" exclaimed Nicodemus. "How can an old man go back into his mother's womb and be born again?"

Jesus replied, "I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit (John 3:2-5 NLT)."

Nicodemus knew, and we also know, that a physical re-birth is impossible. The good news that Jesus came to tell us is that we can begin life all over again. We can have a new starting point, a second chance. This is called the new birth. We can be born of God. Each true follower of Jesus is “born of water and the Spirit.”

How God Prepares Us for Service

by Gregory A. Johnson

We are ALL called to serve God by following Jesus and making a difference in our day for Him. Many confuse attending church with answering that call. Please know that attending church is not fully following Christ, although many who follow Christ attend church. Church will not make us a Christ-follower. To be willing and ready to follow Christ, we have to recognize who He is and what we are not. He is holy; we are not. As we recognize who Jesus is and what we are not, we realize that He must do a work in our lives in order for us to follow and serve Him.

Isaiah had a fresh revelation of God and His holiness that revealed to him his unholy state (Isaiah 6:1-8). Recognizing that God needed to do a work in him before he could serve God, Isaiah cried out, “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts” (Isaiah 6:5). God answered Isaiah’s cry for help and sent seraphim from His very presence to cleanse Isaiah. After God cleansed Isaiah, he was willing and ready to go and do whatever God required, in total obedience and service to the Almighty.

Three Choices That Will Start Your Day off Right Every Day

by Gregory A. Johnson

Each one of us has to make lots of choices today and every day. Those choices impact our lives and the lives of those around us.

If you struggle with knowing how to keep your life on the right path, here are three choices you can make every morning that will start your day off right:

1. Choose to trust God, knowing that He loves you and that there is nothing you can do to make Him love you any more or any less than He already does. His love for you is complete.
2. Choose to rejoice in the Lord because Jesus rescues you on a daily basis.
3. Choose to praise the Lord for His goodness toward you.

Beloved, make those three choices daily to start your day off right, and you will see your life will unfold as it is meant to, according to His perfect will for you.

Scripture:
“But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me” (Psalm 13:5-6, NLT).

Prayer:
Father, today I choose to trust in your love for me. I choose to praise you throughout the day for your goodness toward me, knowing that you will reveal it to me many times over. I choose to rejoice in my salvation because Jesus rescues me moment by moment. Thank you for drawing me to Him. Please drive me by your Holy Spirit today to make the right choices based on your Word. I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

(The above is excerpted from the book, Be Encouraged: A Daily Devotional, Volume 1 by Pastor Gregory A. Johnson. Copyright © Gregory A. Johnson. All rights reserved.)

Know that you are loved,
gaj

The Cure for Oppression and Trouble

by Gregory A. Johnson

At various times throughout our lives, we all find ourselves oppressed. Trouble abounds in our day. May we constantly run to the LORD, for He is our safety!

Beloved, run into the arms of our loving LORD. He will take care of you today and forever.

Scripture: “The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble” (Psalm 9:9, NLT).

What To Do in the Midst of Trials and Afflictions

by Gregory A. Johnson

As we follow Christ, there will be many times when our journey will take us through trials and afflictions that test our faith. During these times, all we need do is cry out with a simple prayer: "Father, help me through this. I don’t know what else to do but simply wait on you and your help."

There have been many times in my walk with the LORD when I have prayed that prayer, I've still been left with worry and anxiety. I've learned to recognize that these fears are the fruit of the sin of unbelief, and so now, I quickly repent and ask the LORD to forgive me, thus renewing my trust in Him.

Where Faith is Tested and Perfected

by Gregory A. Johnson

It is easy to obey the Lord when we see results, but that is not where our faith is tested and perfected. Our faith is tested when our prayers go unanswered, and we do not see the expected results. Our faith is perfected when we do not give up and continue to obey without seeing.

Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem, passing between Samaria and Galilee. “And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.’ When he saw them he said to them, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went they were cleansed” (Luke 17:12-14 ESV).

Please allow me to point out that:

• The ten lepers cried out to Jesus for mercy in their time of need.
• The need and the cry for help got the attention of Jesus.
• Jesus gave the ten lepers something to do but did not immediately give them what they were asking.
• The ten lepers obeyed Jesus before seeing any results.
• The ten lepers were cleansed as they obeyed Jesus.

The Wilderness: A Time of Spiritual Growth

by Gregory A. Johnson

The longer I live, the more convinced I become that there are God designed and defined periods of our life that are carved out with the specific purpose of preparing us. These periods of time can be considered wilderness experiences.

In these wilderness experiences, we encounter spiritual drought, loneliness, and temptation as we learn to deal with our faults and our doubts. We confront our weaknesses in the wilderness, and they eventually make way to strength as more of our flesh is crucified, facilitating growth in our dependence upon the Lord.

In the wilderness, our faith is stretched and as a result, it is enlarged. We come out of the wilderness better people with more faith and ready to accomplish the task at hand until we come to the next wilderness experience where we will, once again, be fine-tuned to traverse another level on our journey as we live in service to the Lord.