How to Get Everything You Need

by Gregory A. Johnson

Food, shelter, and clothing are the basic necessities of life, and Jesus tells us not to be anxious about them. Jesus will give us all that we need as we follow Him and continue His point-of-need ministry in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Throughout our ministry, God has provided my wife, my children, and me with food, shelter, and clothing. The first church we pastored paid us fifty dollars a week. The second church we pastored paid us one hundred dollars a week. We never went hungry, homeless, or naked during those years. We obeyed God, and He miraculously provided for our needs, and still does today. I thank God for the people He sent to help us, for second-hand stores, and for my wife, who is an expert at couponing.

He Is No Longer a Babe in a Manger

by Gregory A. Johnson

Jesus left glory and all of its riches to come into our world and reveal His Kingdom. Theologians
refer to this emptying process that Jesus willingly went through as "kenosis." After the resurrection, the opposite of kenosis took place—Jesus was re-glorified. Jesus is now back in His original state of glory.

John, secluded on the island of Patmos, received a revelation of the re-glorified Christ. He testifies: "When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, 'Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades'" (Revelation 1:17-18 ESV).

How to Walk in Power, Love, and Self-discipline

by Gregory A. Johnson

As we approach the coming of our Lord, we are surrounded by ever-increasing evil. Many are
overwhelmed by fear. What is the Christ-follower to do? We are to overcome evil with love. Jesus has not left his followers powerless until he returns. He has given us his Spirit, which empowers us to live as loving overcomers.

Please allow me to share with you a short devotion that I have written.

The Kingdom Revealed

by Gregory A. Johnson

What is the Kingdom of God? What does building the Kingdom mean? How does one work in the Kingdom? If you were asked those questions today, how would you answer?

I'm sure that some people would answer that the church is the Kingdom, and building the Kingdom involves growing church attendance and membership. Many would define working in the Kingdom as volunteering expendable time to church activity, mostly taking place within the walls of a building and the confines of a service. Those answers may involve good things to do, but is all of that correct?

God Does Not Discriminate

by Gregory A. Johnson

Because of Jesus, we all have equal access to God. Everyone has access to God's grace and peace, regardless of race, gender, or economic status. Because of His amazing grace, God pours His Spirit into all who will receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior. With God's Spirit comes a supernatural peace that surpasses all understanding—peace with God and peace with man.

God loves us so much. Who would not want to receive His grace? Who would not want to receive His peace? Only those who have been blinded by sin and evil would reject God's free gifts. They search the world for peace but will find none. The peace that wars and diplomacy try to bring is costly, fragile, and fleeting. The peace that God gives through His Holy Spirit is free, strong, and eternal.

How Prayer Will Increase Your Faith, Love, and Praise

by Gregory A. Johnson

One of the benefits of being a praying person is being able to look back over your life and see the answers to prayer that God has brought. If you pray, you know what I’m talking about. Reflecting on God’s goodness in answering prayer increases not only our faith, but also our love for the LORD. Out of our increased faith and love comes praise from the heart that articulates through our lips.

If you are a person of prayer, take a moment now and reflect on the answers to prayer that the LORD has brought to you. If you are not a person of prayer, there is no better time than now to begin making prayer a part of your life. Get a spiral notebook to use as a prayer journal. Make a list in the notebook of all the prayer requests that you are going to pray about and trust the LORD to answer. In the left-hand margin, put the date of when you first write the prayer request in your journal. Take time every day to enter your place of prayer with your prayer journal in hand. Pray over each request daily until you feel the Holy Spirit directing you on to the next request. In God’s timing and in God’s ways, you will begin to receive answers to your prayers. As you do, take a highlighter and highlight each prayer request that the LORD has answered. Write the date in the right-hand margin of when the LORD answered the prayer.

Why Does God Not Answer My Prayers?

by Gregory A. Johnson

Being in the ministry for many years, my wife and I have heard the same question over and over again. So many ask, “Why does God not answer my prayers?” They say, “I call out to Him in my time of need, but it’s like He is not even there.”

Please know that we must call on the Lord in truth, which means praying while expecting His promises for you as declared in His Word. It’s not praying for what you want; it’s praying for the promises that God has given you in His Word. So many today call on the Lord in their times of trouble, but they do not know the Word; they do not obey the Word. They ask things of the Lord that are not even in line with His Word. As we learn the Word and obey it, we can call on the Lord in truth.

True Leadership from the Greatest Leader

by Gregory A. Johnson

Books abound on the subject of leadership. Volumes have been written. Seminars, lectures, and course studies are everywhere, including the church.

Everyone wants to be a great leader, whether it is in the home, workplace, schoolhouse, marketplace, or church house. People look for success in current leaders and in leaders throughout history, yet there seems to be a huge vacuum of true leadership today. Where in the world are all the true leaders?

How to Live With Fearless Confidence

by Gregory A. Johnson

We can live with fearless confidence in these times of terror, turmoil, and uncertainty as we surround our lives with prayer. As we pray, we will receive a holy boldness from the Holy Spirit that enables us to speak and live the Word in these difficult days. Praying will get us through every one of the devil’s attacks against us.

Pray on, Beloved!

SCRIPTURE:
“While they were praying, the place where they were meeting trembled and shook. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak God’s Word with fearless confidence” (Acts 4:31 MSG).

PRAYER:
Father, I thank you for the privilege of prayer and the supernatural help that we receive through praying. I pray for the Holy Spirit to fill us today with a renewed confidence that displaces all fear. The devil is always scheming against us; he steals, kills, and destroys, but Jesus gives us life. We live in times when fear holds many hostage. As we spend time in prayer, give us a Word to speak along with a fearless confidence to speak it. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Excerpted from the book, Be Encouraged: A Daily Devotional, Volume 1 by Gregory A. Johnson. Copyright © by Gregory A. Johnson. All rights reserved.

Top Ten Posts of 2014

by Gregory A. Johnson

I am humbled by the number of people who take time to read what I write. Finding that God often allows me to be transparent, writing from a life that has experienced pain, hardship, hurt, trials, and tribulations on my journey as I follow Christ, I pray for his Spirit to encourage and inspire each reader.

Please allow me to share with you the top ten posts read in 2014:

1. Surviving the Storms of Life

2. Lent is a Blessed Time of Year

3. Trust God Even if You Feel Forsaken

4. Jesus Christ Will Return

5. The Cross and the Empty Tomb

6. The End of the Age

7. Gender Equality

8. Will You Dare to Be a Daniel?

9. Females Preach the First Easter Message

10. There is Hope in a Prison of Despair

Nothing Is Impossible with God

by Gregory A. Johnson

We are trained throughout life to reason things out. We are taught human reasoning skills throughout our education, and the training continues into the workplace. Human reasoning or logic is not bad unless we apply it to God and His Word. Human reasoning is the opposite of faith. Faith is placing our total trust in God and His Word’s application to our life and impossible situations.

Faith comes and increases by the Word of God. The more of God’s Word that we believe and obey, the more faith grows in us. God speaks His Word to us through the Bible and often confirms it through prayer and through other people. The Word that God impresses on our heart through prayer or the Word spoken through others will never be in conflict with God’s written Word. The more of His written Word that we learn, understand, and obey, the more we are able to discern and identify the many voices that we hear today. Everything should line up with and be in agreement with God’s written Word. As we learn and obey God’s Word, faith grows in us.

Mary gave herself to God in total trust. Gabriel continues with his message from God for Mary:  "And the angel answered her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.'

"And Mary said, 'Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.' And the angel departed from her" (Luke 1:35-38 ESV).

Even though Mary could not comprehend what was being told to her, she submitted herself to God’s Word. She could not figure out how it all was going to come about, but she allowed faith to rise above human reasoning; she trusted God and His Word. God fulfilled His Word and accomplished the impossible in Mary’s life. Through her, baby Jesus was birthed—God came into our world.

Beloved, this speaks to us today. God will do the impossible in us and through us as we allow faith to rise above human reasoning. No matter what the circumstances may be, as we place our total trust in God and His Word, He will work in our seemingly impossible situations. Absolutely nothing is impossible with God.

Will you stop trying to figure it all out and just place your total trust in God and His Word today? He desires to utilize your life for His glory. Your sphere of influence, friends, family, and all those around you will see you place your trust in God and His Word, and many will witness God doing impossible things in your life.

Excerpted from the book, The Characters of Christmas: God at Work in Our Lives by Gregory A. Johnson. Copyright © by Gregory A. Johnson. All rights reserved. 

Thanksgiving: A Time of Reflection

by Gregory A. Johnson


My favorite time of the year is Thanksgiving. I cannot think of much I don’t like about it.

I like turkey and all the trimmings. Pumpkin pie ranks in the upper echelon of pies I am most fond of, with a mound of whipped cream in the shape and enormity of snow-capped Mount Hood decorating the top of my slice.

I have precious memories of times I spent with Dad in the woods during this time of the year, allowing his love and respect for God’s creation to be deposited in my intellect, becoming a part of my heart and soul.

I can still smell the goodness of aromas I experienced as a child, coming from mom’s kitchen, as I waited anxiously to gorge on oyster dressing, fresh cranberries, and sweet potatoes, along with a fat turkey leg that was always reserved for me.

Yes, I love Thanksgiving. I always have. I always will.

Although Thanksgiving is a time to reflect and be thankful for everything that God has so graciously provided, enjoying it has no relation to the abundance of what we have or what we lack. I can remember many times during our years of pastoring small churches in impoverished parts of Appalachia, that Becky and I didn’t know where our next meal was coming from or how we were going to pay the bills, but I still had everything that I was thankful for: my wife, my children, family, friends, a roof over our heads, and most importantly, God.

God has always been faithful, both in the lean times and in the times of abundance. When my dreams were shattered, he was there to pick up the pieces. When I didn’t want to live, he was there to breathe his life and purpose back into my being, helping me pick myself up, and giving me hope in the prison of despair that held me captive. Tattered and torn, I would recover, time and time again, experiencing his resurrection power, receiving healing and life.

As I have matured in age and in my relationship with the Lord, I have grown fond of realizing thanksgiving more frequently than annually. More and more, it has become a part of daily life instead of an observed holiday.

God’s word says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7, ESV).

We live in a world where prayer time has been filled with a wish list, asking God for what we want instead of thanking him for what he has done, is doing, and will do, according to his word. When we are self-focused and only come to God with a wish list, our hearts and minds grow troubled with all the problems represented by what is on our list. When we are God-focused and come to him, giving thanks for what he has done and what he will do, our problems become small, and our faith is enlarged. Absorbing his peace, we are refreshed, renewed, and revived, with hearts and minds protected.

Beloved, I’m thankful for you. I’m thankful for God. I’m thankful that he is healing you, providing for you, protecting you, and saving you from this world.

I pray that you have a blessed Thanksgiving, both now and always.

Know that you are loved,
gaj

How to Stay Strong and Courageous in a World Full of Fear

by Gregory A. Johnson

There is much fear in the world today. There is no safe place to live. Terror, the fruit of terrorism, grows and ripens daily. There are wars and rumors of wars. Natural disasters are frequent, intense, and brutal. Drought, famine, and disease are widespread. Pandemic viruses know no boundaries. As we live as sojourners in a world that grows increasingly out of step with the Gospel, I encourage you to be strong and courageous.

In the first chapter of Joshua in God’s Word, God is getting ready to take Joshua, and the people of Israel, on a journey out of the wilderness that they were in for forty years, delivering them to the Promised Land. It won’t be easy. They will face a lot of obstacles on the journey, but God tells Joshua repeatedly to be strong and courageous.

Likewise, Christ’s followers are on a journey. On our journey, we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2). Jesus is taking us out of the wilderness and into the Promised Land; it is a journey from earth to glory. We will face a lot of obstacles along the way, but Jesus encourages us to be strong and courageous.

In the midst of all that is going on in the world and in our lives, how do we stay strong and courageous? Allow me to share the two ways that are revealed to us in the first chapter of Joshua.

A Picture of the Throne of God

by Gregory A. Johnson

Have you ever wondered what the throne of God will look like? God's word gives us a vivid picture of it. There is a sea of people so grand in number that they cannot be counted. Every nationality and every language is represented (Revelation 7:9, NIV).

The position of those around the throne is significant. God and Jesus are in the center, and a sea of people is surrounding them. Angels are surrounding the sea of people. The sea of people, all in white robes are in the inner circle, and the angels are in the outer circle. The angels were created to serve God, but they were never redeemed. There is no need to redeem them because they have not sinned. The inner circle is saved for the redeemed—the ones in white robes. They have been bought back from a life of sin. The purchase price was costly; it was through the blood of God’s own son.

Are We Living in the Last Days?

by Gregory A. Johnson


There is more of an infatuation with the end of days than in any other time that I can recall in my lifetime. Movies have been made, books written, and predictions made. Survivalists or doomsday preppers are building bomb shelters, stockpiling food, water, guns, and ammunition while buying up silver and gold. Are we living in the last days?

The last days began with Jesus coming into our world and was accelerated at the cross of Christ when these three powerful words, “it is finished,” were uttered from the parched lips of our tortured and dying Savior.

Throughout the years, many have predicted the return of Christ for his followers. These dates have come and gone, but the truth of Jesus’ return remains. Each time a prediction is made with the date passing, some are swayed into believing that it is nothing more than a myth, but it is not a myth; it is truth and will occur at God’s beckoning, which will not be in response to his creation’s predictions. God will not consult with anyone.

Gender Equality

by Gregory A. Johnson

In Jesus' day and the days of the early Pauline church, women were not recognized or treated much better than animals. There are still parts of this world where women are not allowed to get an education, vote, or even drive a car.

The apostle Paul taught that women were to be silent in the church and could not hold some leadership positions. In the early Pauline church, women would sit on one side of the church and men on the other. I love the apostle Paul, and I believe his writings are inspired of God. He is one of my heroes of the faith, but I must take my understanding of his teachings within the boundaries of the teachings and actions of Jesus. If I do that, I can properly interpret the Scriptures. If I don't do that, my theology will become unbalanced and the result will not look like the Kingdom according to Jesus.

Race Equality

by Gregory A. Johnson

Jesus made it clear that the Kingdom, which has been established in Him, is to include all people of all races, color, and creed, as indicated to us in His last words on earth prior to ascending back to the right hand of the Father.

The Gospel of Matthew concludes with Jesus informing His followers that the Kingdom is to be preached and taught in all nations: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:18-20).

The Gospel of Mark concludes in the same manner: "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned" (Mark 16:15-16).

God is Always Working in Your Life

by Gregory A. Johnson

I was contacted by a man who had lost his business, home, wife, and children during a seven-year span. As if that were not enough heartache, he now found himself unemployed and homeless. He told me that the devil wanted him to kill himself, but he knew that the devil was a liar. Instead of suicide, he made the choice to trust Jesus, having faith that Jesus would bring him through it all.

So many precious people are in similar situations. Hopelessness abounds in our day, and can strike any of us at any time; none of us know what tomorrow will bring.

Allow me to draw your attention to something that Christ-follower Stephen said right before he was violently murdered by a group of religionists who thought they were doing God a favor. Stephen told them: “But as the time of the promise drew near, which God had granted to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt until there arose over Egypt another king who did not know Joseph. He dealt shrewdly with our race and forced our fathers to expose their infants, so that they would not be kept alive. At this time Moses was born”… (Acts 7:17-20 ESV).

Surviving the Storms of Life

by Gregory A. Johnson



Under dark skies with the wind blowing wildly, causing the waves to be hurricane-like in size and strength, they were all together in the boat. Their pulses raced with anxiety. 

Fear was on the verge of overpowering and overwhelming them as they frantically tried steering the vessel through the madness and the fierceness of the raging sea. They would row in one direction only to have to row in the other direction as the unrelenting, powerful winds were swirling all about them. 

The spray of the sea was stinging their eyes, and the waves were lapping up over the sides of the boat. The boat was taking on water, and the question of survival was racing through their minds. It was the storm of a lifetime, and they could not rely on any past experiences or self-ability to get them through it.

Jesus came to them in the darkest, most alarming hour of their storm, and he came in a surprising way—walking on top of the rough sea. As Jesus got close to the boat, the disciples were frightened. Jesus said to them, “‘It is I; do not be afraid.’ Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going” (John 6:20-21 ESV).

The account of Jesus walking on the water in the Gospels reveal the actions of Jesus that will help us as we trust him during our storms of life (Matthew 14:22-33, Mark 6:45-52, John 6:16-21).

• Jesus was not threatened or alarmed by the storm.

• Jesus was watching out for his followers even when they did not realize it.

• Jesus rose above the storm and became prominent in the midst of it.

• Jesus gave his followers comfort.

• Jesus brought his followers safely through the storm.

The Cross and the Empty Tomb

by Gregory A. Johnson

Not just during the Easter season, but each day, we are confronted with the cross of Christ and the empty tomb. What do they mean? Why are they so significant?

In the 1800's Ralph E. Hudson wrote the chorus to the sacred hymn, At the Cross: "At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light, and the burden of my heart rolled away. It was there by faith I received my sight, and now I am happy all the day!"

• At the cross, we realize how much God loves us (Romans 5:8).  
• At the cross, we are justified and saved from God’s wrath (Romans 5:9).  
• At the cross, we are reconciled to God (Romans 5:10). 
• At the cross, we experience forgiveness of sins (Luke 23:34). 

Jesus Christ Will Return

by Gregory A. Johnson

I am thankful that we are one day closer to the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. Media has utilized the date-setting false prophets of our day to desensitize society to the reality of the return of Christ, but that does not negate its truth. I feel the Holy Spirit compelling me, more and more, to remind people that Christ is returning as he promised, and we are to always be ready.

So many in our day, both inside and outside the walls of the church building, base what is right from wrong on what feels good, what is socially acceptable, what media and Hollywood suggest, instead of on Scripture. They are not hearing much different coming from behind the pulpits, and they are not reading the Bible on their own. Many go to church and only hear about receiving God's blessings. This bless-me-and-all-that-I-do message mimics many of the books written today by popular television preachers.

Trust God Even if You Feel Forsaken

by Gregory A. Johnson

Have you ever felt forsaken, finding yourself isolated, desolated, and deserted? You surround your life with people, even church people, yet it’s as if everyone has left you—even God. You pray, but your prayers go unanswered. The heavens are like solid brass, bouncing your words back to you as you cry out for help in your desperation.

Please know that it is not wrong to have these feelings. You can have a heart for God, seeking to serve him with everything you have, and still, have these feelings. The Bible tells us that King David was a man after God's own heart. He delighted in the LORD, but there were times when he felt forsaken.

Top Ten Posts of 2013

by Gregory A. Johnson

Reflecting on 2013, looking forward to 2014, I am thankful for you. I am humbled by the number of people who take time to read what I write.

Writing is not something I do by choice, but something that I believe God calls me to do. He has opened up an audience that spans the globe. I pray for his Spirit to inspire and speak to each reader, finding that he often allows me to be transparent, writing from a life that has experienced pain, hardship, hurt, trials, and tribulations on my journey as I follow Christ. I write what he gives me, realizing he brings me through difficulty, allowing me to help others through the same.

In gratitude to those who read my posts and my books, please allow me to share with you the top ten posts that have been read this year. I pray that one, two, or many of the posts below will draw you to click and read or re-read, allowing the Spirit of God to speak encouragement, pouring upon you waves of joy, covering you with abundant grace, and shielding you with tender mercy.

How to Make the Right Decisions

by Gregory A. Johnson


Please know that whatever God is speaking and through whatever avenue He chooses to speak it, it will always line up with His written word. The angel that came to Joseph in a dream lined up God’s plan with God’s Word. He lined up what was happening with the Word of God spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).

Throughout our life, we will continually have to make decisions in difficult situations and circumstances. To make the right choices, we must seek God’s plan. How do we know when we have found God’s plan? There will always be two indicators that will let us know when we have found God’s plan. Number one, God’s plan will always line up with His Word (click to tweet). Number two, we will have a peace that God gives us about the plan.

God’s plan will always bring peace (click to tweet). “When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus” (Matthew 1:24-25).

Joseph received God’s plan that lined up with God’s Word, and he received a peace from God that allowed him to execute the plan. This Word and this peace enabled him to scrap his plan and execute God’s plan instead. Did it make his life easy? No, Joseph lived his life with everyone talking about how Mary got pregnant prior to their marriage ceremony. You know how people are. I imagine that people shamed Mary and Joseph all throughout their life on this earth, but they were chosen and blessed vessels of God. I imagine they are living pretty nice today around God’s throne as they both submitted to God’s plan and not human reasoning.

Beloved, God’s plan for our life in each situation and every circumstance is far better than our plan (click to tweet). As we seek God through prayer and as we wait on Him, He will lead us, and He will guide us. Weigh every decision you make on two premises. Does it line up with God’s Word? Do I have a peace about the decision? Unless you can say yes to those two questions, continue to pray and wait. If you act on your own plan, you will miss God. If you act on God’s plan, you will receive His blessings. Pray. Wait. Stay in the Word. Receive His peace. Be blessed.

Excerpted from the book, The Characters of Christmas: God at Work in Our Lives by Gregory A. Johnson. Copyright © by Gregory A. Johnson. All rights reserved. 

Fountains of Endless Life

by Gregory A. Johnson

The Spirit of the Living God brings us fountains of endless life (Click to tweet). Take a moment and allow those words to sink into the deep regions of your intellect, flooding your being with peace and joy, flowing through you like a spring gushing forth with fresh, cool, clear, sparkling water.

She had been searching for something in life that she could never find. She sought fulfillment in relationship after relationship, only to find that they often led to and ended in hurt. Married five times and currently living with another, she was wearied and worn, emotionally and mentally spent. Her life had become as empty as the dry and waterless vessel that she carried that morning to draw water from the well.

Sitting at the well, talking to her with a caring heart that she had never sensed in another man, Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again. Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life” (John 4:13-14, MSG).

Transforming Grace

by Gregory A. Johnson

Those who will receive God’s grace are forever transformed. They cease to do whatever they want to do and begin to do what Jesus Christ has for them to do. They no longer live for self; they deny self and follow Christ.

There is no better example of this transformation than the one recorded in Acts 9:1-9 of God’s word. A dramatic, definable, and undeniable change takes place in Saul, who would later be named the Apostle Paul.

Saul was living for self, believing in his interpretation of Old Testament Scripture and the prophets. Jesus did not fit Saul’s understanding of what the Scripture said of the Messiah. Saul and his religious buddies believed that the teachings and claims of Jesus were radical and threatened changes to the Law and the Temple. Saul was at the trial of Stephen where the frustrations of the religionists with the early Christ-followers came to a violent climax and ended in the stoning death of Stephen (Acts 6:8-7:60).

Prayer, Faith, and the LORD's Fast

by Gregory A. Johnson




Some people think that faith is believing that God will do what you want him to do—if you pray and believe, God will act in the way you want him to act on behalf of your situation or circumstance. They have been taught that if you mix some fasting with praying and believing, you can really get God’s attention, and he will do more of what you want him to do.

With this type of thinking, glory is given to the individual who can supposedly move God into action. A true move of God will be in such a way that only God receives the glory.

Faith is believing that God will keep his word, doing what is right because he is in control and loves his children. It is in prayer where we receive more of his grace and mercy in our time of need as we release all of our worries and anxieties to him. Our human nature tries to hold on to them, but his nature is to take them all if we just release them to him.

The Greatest Characteristic of a Christ-follower

by Gregory A. Johnson

The Christ-follower walks in faith, hope, and love.

Christ-followers have faith in the One they follow. They trust Jesus with their present and their future. They even trust Jesus with their finances, realizing that they are blessed so that they can bless others.

The hope of the Christ-follower is different from the hope of those who don’t follow Christ. The hope of a Christ-follower is surrounded in expectation, while the hope of others is surrounded in wishful thinking. Christ’s followers fully expect the LORD to keep His promises because they serve Him with total abandonment.

The love of Christ’s followers is a supernatural gift that is given to them by the Holy Spirit. With this supernatural gift, they are able to love not only the lovable but also the unlovable. They love as Christ has loved them.

Retaliation is not a part of the Kingdom

by Gregory A. Johnson


Although the people of Jesus' day were looking for a messiah to come and relieve them from Roman oppression, Jesus did not come and bring the war they anticipated their messiah to bring; He brought peace. The people were not looking for peace; they were looking for retaliation against the oppressors and occupying forces of their day, but retaliation is not a part of the Kingdom—peace is. Because of this, they rejected Jesus as the Messiah.

There is peace in the Kingdom that is established in Jesus, and there is no one better to reveal the peace of the Kingdom than Jesus Himself. The prophet Isaiah told of Jesus coming into our world as Sar-Shalom—the Hebrew word for Prince of Peace: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).

At His birth, the angels sang, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" (Luke 2:14).

As He entered Jerusalem one last time heading to a cross to suffer and die, the multitudes of people that lined the dusty road sang, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" (Luke 19:38).

The angels sang of peace on earth pointing to Kingdom now; the people sang of peace in heaven pointing to Kingdom future.

Taken Out of this World

by Gregory A. Johnson

For many years, it has been popular to trace a family’s ancestry back as far as one can go. There are many resources available now, including the Internet, which makes information for genealogical research more readily available.

The genealogy of Noah is given in Genesis 5:1-32 of the Bible and traces all the way back to Adam. It is interesting to note that after stating the name of each ancestor and years of his life, it is always stated that the individual died, except in one instance—Enoch. It does not state that Enoch died, but instead it says “God took him.”

Enoch was close to God, and God enjoyed his company very much. They would walk with each other every day. I imagine God waited for Enoch to awaken each day so they could spend time together. One day, God just took Enoch into His presence to be with Him for all eternity. Enoch bypassed death.

God has made a way for us to have eternal life through Jesus Christ. We can walk with Him every day, and one day He will take us to be with Him forever. God taking Enoch typifies the great gathering in the sky with the LORD that is to come for Christ-followers.

A Glorious Church Service

by Gregory A. Johnson

Church in a renovated carriage house

Instead of the church in Mississippi, God led us to pastor a group of folk in central Kentucky. We were so happy to find the will of God and move from West Virginia to Kentucky to pastor. The church there did not have a lot of people, it didn't have a parsonage, and it was not debt-free like the church in Mississippi, but God called us there, and they were fine people. They had church in an old carriage house on the property of an old southern mansion that sat on a hill overlooking the city. The mansion had burned down, but the church bought the ten acres and renovated the old carriage house to have church in until they could afford to build a sanctuary on the property.

The property had history. The old two-level carriage house still had iron jail bars on the windows of the basement. It was where slaves were housed at night during the terrible days of slavery in America, when African Americans were treated, valued, and traded as animals. The slaves would work long, hard days on the property farming tobacco and taking care of the livestock. At night they would be locked in the dark, damp, and musty smelling basement with the horses and carriages housed comfortably in the nicer level above them.

Focusing on a Bright Future

by Gregory A. Johnson

Oftentimes we focus only on what is happening or not happening to us now. Doing so can cause anxiety, discontentment, hopelessness, and depression. What would happen if, instead of focusing on the present, we focused on what our future is in Christ? We would be tremendously encouraged in the midst of it all.

Christ-followers may not have a pleasant present, but they have a marvelous future that is literally out of this world. Christ has prepared the way for them to spend eternity with Him. At the cross, the power of sin was broken. At the resurrection, death was defeated. At the ascension, a promise was given—Jesus will return for His faithful followers, so they can be with Him forever.

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.

Victory!

by Gregory A. Johnson

There is one constant theme throughout the entire Bible—VICTORY! Because of His love and grace, God grants victory for His children. Life here on earth can be a battle as we try to live for the LORD, but we are afforded victory, and our victory is in Him.

Beloved, your victory today is found in Jesus. Follow Him with your whole being and victory is yours.

Scripture:
“No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD” (Isaiah 54:17).

Prayer:
Father, I thank you for the victory you have given us through Jesus Christ. I pray for those today who are facing persecution in the home, workplace, schoolhouse, or wherever they are doing what is right and good as they follow Christ. I pray for those living in lands where their life is in danger because of their faith in Jesus. Encourage each one today, Father. Strengthen us all by your Holy Spirit, giving each of us reaffirmation of the victory that has already been afforded us at the cross of Christ, including our ultimate victory which is to come. I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Excerpted from the book, Be Encouraged: A Daily Devotional, Volume 1 by Gregory A. Johnson. Copyright © by Gregory A. Johnson. All rights reserved.

The Most Segregated Day of the Week

by Gregory A. Johnson

A great display of racial segregation can still be found in America, and it's in an unlikely place—the church on Sunday mornings. Sunday is the most segregated day of the week. Here in America, we have churches for every race—African American, European American, Native American, Latino, Japanese, Korean, Hmong, Chinese, etc. I understand the language and cultural barriers that exist, but should our churches not have representatives from all races within the community that they reside?

In 1996, I received a call from a church board in Mississippi and was invited to come to speak on a Sunday morning as a candidate for a vacant senior pastor position. Becky, our two young children, and I traveled to Mississippi to spend a weekend meeting with the board, speaking to the church, and seeking the will of God. We were put up in the nicely furnished and fairly new parsonage that was adjacent to the large debt-free church, which sat on a nice piece of property.

The Best is Yet to Come

by Gregory A. Johnson

God is so good to his children, giving us a foretaste of glory that is to come.

Scripture declares: “And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us” (Romans 8:23, NLT).

Life can be difficult at times, but God does not leave us to navigate our journey alone. He has given each Christ-follower the Holy Spirit. The gift of the Spirit living within assures us of God’s constant and unconditional love for us and our future glory with him. The Spirit gives us tiny tastes of glory now, giving needed comfort, strength, and joy, reminding us that we are God’s children.

The Spirit living within also serves as a reminder that the best for us is yet to come. You see, if this is as good as it gets, it would be rather depressing, but we know that this is not as good as it gets. When we receive our new bodies, as promised, we receive our full rights as God’s children. Think about what this means for us:

• We will be in the presence of the Lord for all eternity.
• We will no longer be where sin is present.
• We will never be tempted again.
• We will never be lonely, depressed, or sad.
• We will not have to remember to take our medicine.
• We will no longer experience sickness, disease, or suffering.
• We will receive our perfect healing from the Great Physician.
• We will be held in the loving arms of the Lord.

The End of the Age

by Gregory A. Johnson

Many today are wondering how much longer this world can go on like it is going. Is the end near?

The disciples questioned Jesus: "As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?’ (Matthew 24:3 ESV)."

Jesus responds: "And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come (Matthew 24:11-14 ESV)."

Allow me to quickly point out some things about the end of this age, according to Jesus:

• Many will be led astray.
• Lawlessness will increase, resulting in the love of many growing cold.
• The one who endures to the end will be saved.
• The gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed to all nations, and then the end of this age will come.

In loving memory of my dad, Elmer L. Johnson

by Gregory A. Johnson

Elmer L. Johnson

January 7, 1931 - June 17, 2013

Besides Jesus Christ, my dad made more of an impact on my life than any other man I have ever known. I could never list all the ways that dad influenced my life, but please allow me to share some with you here.

Dad influenced me to:

• love the Lord and faithfully serve him with my time, talent, and finances.
• make the Bible the authoritative guide for all of my beliefs and actions.
• love my wife as Christ loves the church.
• always be available for my children, caring for and loving them.
• point people to Jesus on this journey from earth to glory.
• love God’s creation.

I owe a lot to my dad’s influence, and I thank God for giving me the honor to be his son.

gaj

Desolate Places: Where Our Strength is Renewed

by Gregory A. Johnson

In the wilderness, we experience spiritual growth as God prepares us. Desolate places are where our strength is renewed so that we can continue the journey and complete our mission.

The crowds pressed in all around him to hear his anointed and life-giving words. He revealed the kingdom through both his words and actions, healing the sick, feeding the hungry, breaking through man-made religious, gender, economic, and racial barriers with peaceful love and grace. He was driven by the Holy Spirit and on a mission from his father. The pressures of ministry and time constraints were great, but yet as Jesus walked this earth as our example, he withdrew to desolate places.

“But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray” (Luke 5:15-16 ESV).

Notice a couple of points:

• Jesus did not allow the demands of people to take away from his prayer time.
• Jesus withdrew himself from ministry and people for seasons of prayer. 

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.

The Answer to Hardships

by Gregory A. Johnson

There is one thing that I’m certain of today — life is full of the unexpected. Difficulty causing hardship often comes in hours when we are least prepared, taking us entirely by surprise.

Some respond to these hardships saying, “This is an attack of Satan. The devil is out to get me.” Some question saying, “Where did I go wrong? Is there sin in my life? Is God mad at me?” Some ask, “Why me? I’m doing everything God has asked me to do. I’m obedient to the Bible. Why is this happening to me?”

In the pitch dark of the night, these Christ-followers faced horrific winds and waves that caught them off guard. They had been with Jesus and had been part of mighty miracles that confirmed the kingdom that the Lord proclaimed by his words and his actions. Being handpicked and trained by Jesus, they felt that they had advanced to the pinnacle of spiritual maturity. The ferocious headwind came when they least expected their faith in Christ to be severely tested.

Trust in the Lord and Be Blessed

by Gregory A. Johnson

This is what the LORD told Jeremiah the prophet:

Thus says the LORD:
"Cursed is the man who trusts in man
and makes flesh his strength,
whose heart turns away from the LORD.
He is like a shrub in the desert,
and shall not see any good come.
He shall dwell in the parched places
of the wilderness,
in an uninhabited salt land.

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose trust is the LORD.
He is like a tree planted by water,
that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
for it does not cease to bear fruit"  (Jeremiah 17:5-8 ESV).

Just as in Jeremiah's day, the LORD is looking for people in our day who will trust Him. Those who place their trust elsewhere will not "see any good come." They will be like a person who wanders aimlessly in a parched and dry wilderness, never entering into God's provision and crossing over into promised-land blessings. Many of these are good people, and can even be Christian in their belief, but they are guilty of the sin of unbelief. They don’t fully trust the LORD, and they wander aimlessly, accomplishing nothing of any value for the Kingdom.

How to Focus on What You Know

by Gregory A. Johnson


Life is full of the unknown. What we know tends to bring comfort; what we don’t know can bring
much anxiety if we allow it to mess with our thinking. I’m convinced that we will be better off emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually if we focus on what we know instead of concentrating on the unknowns of life.

If you make the unknowns of life your focus, it will get the best of you, bringing you down into the gloomy loneliness found in the dark prison of despair, paralyzing your life, and destroying your future. What would happen if you focused on what you know instead of the uncertainty that robs you of your sleep, joy, and peace, threatening to rattle your sanity beyond what is repairable?

Living in the Joy of the Resurrection

by Gregory A. Johnson

Becky was pregnant with our second child, and the doctor calculated that her due date would be April 1—April Fools' Day. Becky was adamant that our baby would not be born on April Fools' Day and throughout the pregnancy, she stood firm, prayed, and probably even tried to will herself out of that due date.

The closer we got to the due date, the more Becky proclaimed that our baby would not be born on April Fools’ Day. Well, it was the morning of March 30, and guess what? Nope, there was still no baby. Then that evening, Becky felt the first contraction. Was it a false contraction or was our baby coming? We waited a couple of hours and guess what? Yep, our baby was coming. I took Becky to the hospital later that night. She was in hard labor all night long and the next morning she gave birth to our precious little baby, Kelsey Ann. It wasn’t April Fools’ Day. It was March 31. And you know what fell on March 31 that year? It was Easter Sunday morning! I told everyone who would listen that Kelsey Ann was our little resurrection baby. Becky and I rejoiced!

Kelsey has grown to be a beautiful and intelligent young woman, and on every Easter morning, I remember the joy I felt the Easter morning she was born. She was not an April Fools’ baby. She was a resurrection baby!