Are you drunk?

As he looked at Hannah in the temple, the thought that crossed Eli’s mind was, “Are you drunk?”

As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli watched her mouth, for Hannah was praying silently; though her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard. Eli, thinking she was drunk, said to her, “How long will you make a drunken spectacle of yourself? Sober up from your wine!” – 1 Samuel 1:12-14 (NABRE)

As my spiritual journey became more intense, my mother, not quite understanding what was happening to me, didn’t think that I was drunk, oh no, not at all did that ever cross her mind; she thought that I was staring mad. She called all my siblings to let them know that I had gone crazy, as I was displaying definite signs of mental illness.

Hannah wasn’t drunk and I was not going insane, what Eli and my mother were witnessing was the transformative power of God at work within us as we connected to His presence.

Apostle Paul put it this way,

Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. – Ephesians 5:18-20 (NLT)

When you make that connection, you can’t help but give Him praise and it’s really not up to you the manner in which that praise will manifest. What Eli mistook for Hannah being drunk with wine, was praise continually in her mouth (ref. Psalm 34:1) as she continuously whispered prayers to God.

Being spiritually drunk can have a similar effect as being naturally drunk; that’s what happened on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) when the Holy Spirit first appeared just as the prophet Joel had prophesied.

When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place

Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them

Their heads were spinning; they couldn’t make head or tail of any of it. They talked back and forth, confused: “What’s going on here?” Others joked, “They’re drunk on cheap wine.”

 That’s when Peter stood up and, backed by the other eleven, spoke out with bold urgency;

”These people aren’t drunk as some of you suspect.”  (MSG)

Are you drunk?

We are encouraged to drink spiritual wine to the full. This spiritual wine is the new life in Jesus that is to be consumed as we abide in Him.

In Mark 2:22 Jesus said, New wine needs fresh wineskins (MSG); that’s because old wineskins can’t contain new wine. Jesus used this analogy in His response to a question posed to him by a group of people.

“Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?”   (v 18)

Now, Jesus, speaking of wineskins, in one sense was referring to the human body as a vessel but broader than that, the church as the Body of Christ; the new wine isn’t only the new life in Christ we are given as a New Covenant promise but is also the new wine of the gospel of Christ Jesus.

Jesus was accustomed to the ploys employed by the Pharisees and religious leaders in their constant attempts to entrap Him so, He always remained a step ahead of them with responses that highlighted their religious sanctimony.

They disapproved and scoffed at the new way of teaching that Jesus had introduced; it was unlike the old pharisaic approach to religion. While their way was designed to restrain, constrain and control the masses, Jesus was preaching freedom.

to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free – Luke 4:18 (NABRE) [also Isaiah 61:1]

The gospel of the Kingdom (new wine) could not fit into the Pharisees’ religious paradigm (old wineskin). This applies to us as individuals and expands to the broader congregation as the church.

The new wine of the gospel speaks of an authentic spiritual life; it’s not about public rituals and religious traditions handed down over generations. The new wine of the gospel cannot fit within the restraints of the old wineskin ways.

We have built structures of religious beliefs and traditions that confine us and prevent us from properly receiving the freedom that Christ brought to the world. These old mindsets are so ingrained in us that we are unable to accept new ideas. Subconsciously, we resist change and have a difficult time responding positively to anything that is outside of our comfort zones, yet we expect new results, while our behaviours remain mired in sameness.

The truth is, our wineskins must be changed if we are to experience the new wine – the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. – John 4:24 (ESV)

We seem to believe that after that original Day of Pentecost (Acts 2), there was nothing left to be done so, that is where we have unsaddled the horses and left them in the stables; the church was birthed but it is still going through its stages of growth. God is still doing new things, He isn’t done, there are prophecies to be fulfilled and unfulfilled promises remain promises still to come true.

But we wait for what God has promised: new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness will be at home. – 2 Peter 3:13 (GNT)

Are you drunk?

Wineskins would become redundant without the wine they are meant to hold. Wineskins are the point of contact between the wine and the world. As wineskins, we are God’s agents here on earth. Though secondary to the wine itself, we are necessary and useful and play an essential part in the outpouring of the new wine of the gospel which is potent.

The gospel of Christ has always been a message of newness and renewal in every age, however some of us have not grasped that the format that was used in the church canon of the 1800’s must be revised to successfully fulfil the Great Commission in the twenty first century.

If the way we evangelize and carry out missions no longer works, then we need to stop trying to pour new wine into old wineskins as both the wine and the skins will be ruined.

Understand, the gospel does not change but it does produce change therefore the wineskins must change as time passes. The relationship between the wine and the wineskins is greatly compromised as more and more wineskins refuse to be replaced.

Pitifully, we aren’t even trying to place new wine into old wineskins, we are still using the old wine and the old wineskins, while the new wine sits unattended on the countertop waiting to be poured out into new wineskins that are yet to be acquired.

The old wineskins of outdated models, obsolete theologies, outmoded traditions, dilapidated institutional ideas and old habits cannot hold the new wine of the gospel. We need to recognize that if the way we've always done things isn't working, perhaps the focus is more on tradition and less on Jesus. The old traditions are not adequate to hold the gospel of Christ.

The wineskins of traditions, structures and patterns of doing things which have grown up around the gospel are secondary, manmade and subsidiary. The gospel is primary, God-ordained and central. Those things that were initially created by man to aid in the spreading of the gospel eventually become obstacles. It is not farfetched to suppose that one of the greatest stumbling blocks to the gospel may be us, the church itself.

Too many of us haven’t perceived the new thing.

See, I am doing something new! Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? – Isaiah 43:19 (NABRE)

Are you drunk?

When the new wine of the divine gospel touches human hearts, new wineskins are the result. When faith grows, the old wineskins burst. Wineskins are bursting and yet the church refuses to acknowledge the truth of their worsening state.

The gospel is the new and living way (Hebrews 10:20) but the church is stuck in an old way of life.

Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” – Matthew 15:1-2 (ESV)

Jesus was not obeying their traditions.

He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? – Matthew 15:3 (ESV)

Jesus shifted the focus from the manmade traditions to the commands of God.

God said, ‘You must respect your father and mother.’ And God also said, ‘Whoever says anything bad to their father or mother must be killed.’ But you teach that a person can say to their father or mother, ‘I have something I could use to help you. But I will not use it for you. I will give it to God.’  You are teaching them not to respect their father. So you are teaching that it is not important to do what God said. You think it is more important to follow those traditions you have. You are hypocrites! – Matthew 15:4-7 (ERV)

The gospel was new in the church founders’ day, and it is new in our day, and it will be new in the days to come. The gospel of Christ is still new, but too many have not grasped that (Isaiah 42:9).

In the same way that God put a new song in David’s mouth (Psalm 40:3), He has put a new song in the church, but many are still singing an old tune. The church was never meant to be static, stationary and stagnant, bound to traditions made by men of old that have no bearing on the way of life in changing times. The history of the church and of Christianity bears witness to this truth.

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” – Revelation 21:5 (GNT)

Are you drunk?

The church wants to conserve the old, but the power of the gospel cannot be constrained, it is designed to burst forth into the world, that is the nature of the divine.

There must be no restraints; the old wineskins are designed to bind the gospel, that is the nature of humanity.

Renewal is constantly happening in nature and it’s no different with the gospel; renewing, not in its structure but its impact.

The more we understand it, the greater its impact – the wine of the gospel affects our perspective, our thinking, our lives, our world anew again and again.

It was the power of God then and is the power of God now and will continue to be the power of God forever.

I have complete confidence in the gospel; it is God's power to save all who believe, first the Jews and also the Gentiles. – Romans 1:16 (GNT)

The new wine will never stop bursting old wineskins. The new wine is meant to be poured out as we must be poured out, one vessel into another, giving of ourselves lest we get in the way of others reaching Jesus, lose our taste and become unfit for drinking like Moab (see Jeremiah 48:11-12).

Are you drunk?

Beloved, well-preserved wineskins are still old wineskins no matter how well preserved they may be; it’s definitely not about the fermentation of the new wine, for the wine is not the problem, it’s the wineskin that needs to be replaced.

Holding tight to traditions that no longer work simply because “That’s what we’ve always done” is foolhardy and leads to spiritual stagnation. We cannot continue putting an Old Testament spin onto the New Testament dynamic.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Are you drunk?” © 2026 July 15, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Resolving Conflicts

 

Very often members of a congregation are called to engage in week-long prayer vigils or 3-day fasts or month-long nightly prayer sessions and just as often, Jesus’ words found in Matthew chapter 18 are used as a preamble and source of encouragement.

For where two or three have gathered together in [Jesus] name, [He is] there in their midst (ref. v 20)

What a powerful declaration!

And so, we gather in one accord, presumably, and we pray in church, and we pray together as one voice lifted up via zoom from home, and we pray together at an appointed time wherever we are at that time and we kneel and we stand and we prostrate ourselves and yet, nothing happens; the prayers aren’t answered and we find that the financial breakthrough that we’ve prayed for as a church for the last twenty years to construct the new church building has not materialised, the flood of new members hasn’t been more than a trickle, the former members have not returned in droves or at all, nothing answered and we wonder…

What’s that about?

And so, another prayer meeting is organized, and another fast, and another vigil and another lovely verse is used as a preface to the new prayer session. Same chapter, different verse.

if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. (v 19 NASB 1995)

We are on this earth, we are asking and we agree, presumably but it hasn’t been done – every prayer is left unanswered and we wonder...

Where are the results?

Now, this clearly shows the danger in pulling verses out of a much bigger biblical narrative. These are just two verses from an entire chapter of verses; a chapter comprising thirty-five verses and the verses above are numbered nineteen and twenty, not respectively. It’s a case of the proverbial taking of the cart before the horse, where verses one to eighteen have been completely ignored.

The NASB 1995 version of Matthew chapter eighteen, from which these two verses were extracted, has grouped verses in sections as follows,

1-6 is “Rank in the Kingdom”, where the disciples asked Jesus, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 

7-11 is “Stumbling Blocks”, where Jesus famously says,

“If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be cast into the eternal fire. If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than to have two eyes and be cast into the fiery hell.”

12-14 is “Ninety-Nine plus One”, where Jesus after relating the parable of the lost sheep says, “So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish.”

15-20 is “Discipline and Prayer”, where Jesus, quoting scripture from Deuteronomy 17:6 says, “by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed”

21-35 is “Forgiveness”, where Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” to which Jesus answered, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”

Reading this chapter in its entirety, you’d realize that Jesus is teaching His disciples about resolving conflict. The opening line of Matthew 18 is the catalyst of conflict among the devoted followers of Jesus and is, in many instances, the cause of conflict that exists in churches even today.

Everybody is obsessed with their rank or position or title within the church – Pastor and Bishop and Reverend and Elder and Deacon and Steward and Evangelist and Sister and Brother and so on and so on and if they’re not addressed in a certain manner, then they’d rather not be addressed at all because you’re insolent while all the while you’re simply innocent and perhaps just a little ignorant.

Apostle Paul, in his first epistle to the congregation at Corinth wrote,

But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. (1 Corinthians 8:9 ESV)

Even in Paul’s day just as it had been in Jesus’ and now in our own time, Christians become stumbling blocks to their fellow Christian brothers and sisters. Too often we stand in each other’s way, hindering someone else’s spiritual growth and development. We get so consumed with the what that we neglect the who and are oblivious as the weak “little ones” of the faith perish.

It is how we, by our words and actions, those things we say and do, whether intentionally or unintentionally, impede others’ spiritual progress. The seriousness of this issue must be taken into consideration, as it is not only addressed by Jesus in Matthew 18 and Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 8, but Paul also deals with it in Romans 14 and Luke in Acts 15.

Jesus said that in the world, stumbling blocks were inevitable but added,

“…woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!” (v 7)

Then immediately thereafter Jesus relates a parable. Parables challenge people to look into the hidden aspects of their own lives. They are meant to afflict the comfortable, to indict, to inculcate a new perspective of conventional and personal values and to emphasize the point of view.

Jesus begins His short story with a question,

If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying? (v 12)

The Greek word “plano”, which has been translated as “gone astray” carries the connotation of “deceive/deception”, therefore a better translation of this verse would be,

If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has been deceived, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is deceived?

Can you see now, how this connects to Jesus’ warning of being a stumbling block?

In this parable, blame cannot be assigned to the sheep that has gone astray, the one that is deceived, the fault lays with the man who is shepherding the sheep. He was not as attentive to his sheep as he ought to have been.

Notice that this parable speaks of the church’s responsibility to care, doctrinally, for its members, who may be deceived by those false prophets who Jesus had already warned us of in Matthew 7:15-16.  

Jesus continues His teaching by carefully outlining the process for resolving conflicts within the church community. Jesus is pointing to respect, reconciliation and restoration.

Unlike what we see happening in churches today, conflict resolution is to begin in private between the parties involved and is not to be a broadcasting of your complaints. The inclusion of other parties only becomes necessary if witnesses and wisdom are required and the involvement of the wider community, if multiple attempts at the first two stages of resolving the conflict have failed.

Nowadays, persons both inside and outside the church haven’t a clue about resolving conflicts with respect and compassion; it’s all out war and in this age of social media, conflict has become a spectator sport.

Sadly, the church is no longer the example to follow as Elder Bob is not talking to Elder Sue, half of Pastor Joe’s congregation is angry and upset with him, this minister refuses to work with that minister, the stewards are at loggerheads, the worship team can’t get along, this faction of priests want to have nothing to do with that faction, and Sister Amy will not sit in the same pew as Brother Lou.

All this does is cause division. What did Jesus say?

“Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart.” (Matthew 12:25 NLT)

This includes the family of believers.

When reading Matthew 18:17, remember, Jesus ate with tax collectors, He did not shun them; having a meal together promotes fellowship. Sharing a meal with someone, especially in the way it was done in Jesus’ day was a very intimate affair; it encouraged closeness, broke down barriers, and formed a connection. It should have today, the same powerful effect of relationship building, it had then.

And don’t forget that it was Jesus who sent Paul out to the Gentiles (see Acts 13:47).

We seem to have forgotten that these were the people for whom Jesus came – the lost, the ones who were straying, the deceived (see Luke 19:10 & Matthew 15:24) – us and others like us, our fellow church members; yes, even the one you are avoiding.

It’s time for restoration and reconciliation in the church which can only come with genuine forgiveness. People need to be honest, accountable and responsible. The goal for every member of the community must be to heal broken relationships with each other and with God.

Understand that when Peter asked Jesus if he should forgive someone who sins against him up to seven times (Matthew 18:21), he understood the significance of the number seven, so that when Jesus replied up to seventy times seven, Peter was well aware that this wasn’t a random selection of multiples simply to signify great forgiveness.

You see, the number 490 represents a time of grace but that’s an explanation better left for another day. Until then, know that by His response to Peter, Jesus was revealing the heart of the New Covenant – the forgiveness of sins.

Beloved, Matthew chapter 18 is all about the proper way of resolving conflicts.

Jesus had a way of meeting people where they were, showing grace, connection, compassion and forgiveness above all and you and I, in emulating Him, must endeavour to do the same.

If we as a church community want to experience answers to all our prayer vigils, monthly prayer and fasts, our weekly prayer meetings and our daily prayer partnerships according to Matthew 18:19-20, then we can’t ignore the other parts of this chapter and certainly, we cannot afford to be escalating conflicts rather than resolving conflicts.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Resolving Conflicts” © 2026 July 13, 2026

 

 

 

 

A life worthy of the Gospel

 

From a young age, my mother would always remind me to conduct myself in a way that would reflect my proper upbringing. Apostle Paul in his letter to the congregation at Philippi wrote,

Only [be sure to] lead your lives in a manner [that will be] worthy of the gospel of Christ (Philippians 1:27 AMP)

My mother, fully devoted to Jesus, lived her life in a manner that was worthy of the gospel of Christ and obviously wanted her six children to do the same. I must admit that we weren’t always successful, for though she steered us onto the right path early in life just as Solomon advised, most of us slipped off several times but thankfully we always found our way back.

Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it. (Proverbs 22:6 NLT)

The apostle, in his letter to the Philippians, was addressing an entire church, however, you and I can apply his words to our individual lives and we should. Making sure to lead a life worthy of the gospel of Jesus is easier said than done if you are solely reliant on yourself but it’s certainly possible when you allow the Holy Spirit to do the leading.

When Spirit guides your steps, your life begins to emit an extraordinary beauty, as everything you do reflects the Light of God which brings Him glory through His beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16 NIV)

Understand that you may be the only example some persons have of the gospel; you are an ambassador for the Kingdom so, whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God (ref. 1 Corinthians 10:31 NRSVUE); you cannot afford to be the cause of anyone stumbling.

Your life ought to be a glimpse of what kingdom living is like through your love, generosity, kindness, helpfulness, forgiveness, compassion, mercy and care.

People must see something attractive in your life; a profound contentment that’s compelling, not only in times of praise but even if you are going through a period of suffering and sadness.

This means that in your grief and pain you can still say, “The joy of the Lord is my strength!” and mean it (ref. Nehemiah 8:10).

Your witness needs to have a tremendous impact on others.

Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world. (1 Peter 2:12 NLT)

You must treasure Jesus above all and in your hearts set [Him] apart [as holy – acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives] as Lord (see 1 Peter 3:15 AMP).

And when you are asked, “Why do you do this?”, always be ready to give a [logical] defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope and confident assurance [elicited by faith] that is within you, yet [do it] with gentleness and respect (see 1 Peter 3:15 AMP).

Beloved it’s not easy to commit to a life worthy of the Gospel, it takes firm faith, determination, courage, honesty and perseverance. Sometimes you’ll falter and that’s okay because as Proverbs 24:16 says,

No matter how often honest people fall, they always get up again (GNT)

Keep in mind that you are not alone on this journey (see Hebrews 12:1) and always remember that you can achieve anything through divine power, for with God all things are possible (see Matthew 19:26).

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “A life worthy of the Gospel” © 2026 July 10, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The time God chooses

 

Yesterday I was reminded that time is not ours to control. No matter what, time moves forward, hour by hour, minute by minute, second by second; we can’t stop it and we, for as hard as we may try, certainly cannot manipulate it.

Too many people seem to believe that they can live by any schedule they choose, not recognizing that everything that happens in this world happens at the time God chooses (Ecclesiastes 3:1 GNT). They think that they have all the time in the world and that, in their own time, they will turn to God.

Luke records a time when Jesus, upon seeing the destruction in Jerusalem, wept saying, you did not recognize the time when God came to save you (Luke 19:44 GNT). How many times have you not recognized God’s timing?

Sadly, this is not new, we humans love to take matters into our own hands when we think that things are taking too long to happen. Look at the mess Sarah made by forcing Abraham to have a child with her maidservant, Hagar because she could not wait for the time God chose. To this day there is conflict between the descendants of Ishmael and Isaac.

The time God chooses is always the right time.

The Lord isn’t slow to do what he promised, as some people think. Rather, he is patient for your sake. He doesn’t want to destroy anyone but wants all people to have an opportunity to turn to him and change the way they think and act. – 2 Peter 3:9 (GW)

God is not slow, He is patient for our sake, and you need to be patient for your own sake too. Don’t rush, wait on Him. David, in psalm 62, says to wait calmly on God because it is only from Him that our hope and salvation will come.

Ecclesiastes chapter 3 explains that there are appointed times and seasons for everything and we need to truly understand that this applies to our lives.

I went to a garden centre yesterday and the attendant gave me a calendar which shows, among a host of interesting things, the days to plant for the best outcome. Too often we want to plant any time we feel like, reap when it’s not the right time for the harvest, sow seeds out of season and expect a bumper crop.

Waiting on the time God chooses is not easy but if we want our lives to bear good fruit, we simply must wait on Him. God will provide exactly what we need in the time that will result in the best outcome.

This is a lesson that most of us struggle with even though the Old Testament gives us so many examples to learn from – the entire account of the Israelites’ journey to the Promise Land is a master class in people not waiting for the time God chooses and we know how that ended; a generation did not enjoy the promise of God.

Beloved, don’t let that be your fate just because you want to move ahead of God’s timing. Even doing the right thing at the wrong time, as well-intentioned as it may be, will cause you to miss God every time.

Time, like everything under the sun, belongs to God. He controls the times and the seasons; He himself fixed beforehand the exact times (Daniel 2:21; Acts 17:26 GNT). Stop trying to force God’s hand, instead pray that you will gain a better understanding that the time God chooses is indeed the best time.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “The time God chooses” © 2026 July 9, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

An Unwitting Evangelist

 

An evangelist is defined as “one who delivers good news” and can be used to describe anyone who proclaims the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Evangelist is also the designation given to a particular type of ministry, as can be seen in Ephesians 4:11-12, which states that it was Christ, who “gave gifts to people”; he appointed some to be apostles, others to be prophets, others to be evangelists, others to be pastors and teachers. He did this to prepare all God's people for the work of Christian service, in order to build up the body of Christ. (GNT).

And in Acts 8:25 we see that there can be an overlapping of the work of Christian service as the apostles were also engaged in evangelistic work.

After they had further proclaimed the word of the Lord and testified about Jesus, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages. (NIV)

While Apostle Paul, in his second letter to Timothy, wrote to him saying, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry (2 Timothy 4:5 NIV).

An evangelist is not confined in service to any one specific area but is a mover and shaker; it’s evangelists who founded the church, spreading the good news of the wonders of Jesus to those who hadn’t yet heard.

We come across one such person in the gospel of John who ran around spreading the better than good news of Jesus Christ to everyone, quite unaware of her newfound role and unintentional ministry of evangelism. This unnamed person had become an unwitting evangelist.

John chapter 4 relates the story of Jesus’ encounter with a Samaritan woman at a well while on His way to Galilee. She came to the well to get some water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” (v 7); this was the beginning of a long discourse which ended with Jesus saying to her, “…I am the Messiah.” (v 26). Upon hearing this the woman left her water jar and went back to town. She told the people there, “A man told me everything I have ever done. Come see him. Maybe he is the Messiah.” So the people left the town and went to see Jesus. – John 4:28-30 (ERV)

This Samaritan woman’s life had been shaped through her experiences and though she is often maligned and vilified in sermons because she had had five husbands and the man she was living with was not her husband (v 16-18), Christ saw something in her that she did not see in herself, and by giving her a clearer knowledge of herself, opened up the possibility that she could change, turn her life around and find her way even after heading in the wrong direction for many years.

Many of the Samaritan people in that town believed in Jesus. They believed because of what the woman had told them about him. She had told them, “He told me everything I have ever done. The people said to the woman, “First we believed in Jesus because of what you told us.” – John 4:39, 42a (ERV)

The much-disparaged unnamed Samaritan woman of John 4, was the first to evangelize by proclaiming, Come, see a Man Who has told me everything that I ever did! Can this be [is not this] the Christ? [Must not this be the Messiah, the Anointed One?] (v 29 AMPC), a simple message filled with passion and rooted in authenticity, that led to the transformation of many lives.

Beloved, this woman who became an unwitting evangelist is the same woman who once said to Jesus, How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan [and a] woman, for a drink?—For the Jews have nothing to do with the Samaritans— (v 9 AMPC). Spreading the good news is not restricted to a role, a position, any particular vocation or a specific ability but has everything to do with knowing Christ and being known by Christ.

Open yourself to the possibility that Christ may call you into His service even when you’re unaware that you possess the character that He requires.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “An Unwitting Evangelist” © 2026 July 8, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When God calls

 

Are you familiar with the story of Gideon in the bible? Like me, you may have heard it a while ago in Sunday school but not too much since then.

There’s something to be learnt in every story of the bible and Gideon’s story found in the Book of Judges, chapters 6 to 8, is no different. We first encounter Gideon in chapter 6, verse 11 but before we get there, here’s a little back story – you know there’s always a back story.

Again the Israelites did what the Lord said was wrong. So for seven years the Lord allowed the Midianites to defeat the Israelites. – Judges 6:1 (ERV)

Yes, once again, after all they’ve experienced with God, the Israelites have been disobedient to God, so He allows the Midianites to subjugate them. Things were so bad that they were forced to hide out in the mountains and store their food in caves.

They did that because the Midianites and Amalekites from the east always came and destroyed their crops. – Judges 6:3 (ERV) 

These people left the Israelites with absolutely nothing; they destroyed their crops and stole everything they could put their hands on. Even the cows, sheep and donkeys were fair game.

They came into the land and ruined it. – Judges 6:5 (ERV)

The Israelites were left destitute and desperate, so they did what they always do when they find themselves in a predicament.

Turn to the Lord and pray to him, now that he is near. Let the wicked leave their way of life and change their way of thinking. Let them turn to the Lord, our God; he is merciful and quick to forgive. – Isaiah 55:6-7 (GNT)

They cried out to God for help and in His mercy, He sent a prophet to them with a message,

“This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘You were slaves in the land of Egypt. I made you free and brought you out of that land. I saved you from the powerful Egyptians. Then the Canaanites hurt you, so I saved you again. I made them leave their land. And I gave their land to you.’ Then I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God. You will live in the land of the Amorites, but you must not worship their false gods.’ But you did not obey me.” – Judges 6:8-10 (ERV)

Sometimes we need to be reminded or to remind ourselves, like David, of all the things God has done for us.

As I lie in bed, I remember you; all night long I think of you, because you have always been my help. – Psalm 63:6 (GNT)

Those Israelites had short memories, they really needed to remember and that was a message to jog their memories.

Now, Gideon enters the story. He gets a call from God – not a text, not an email, not on WhatsApp, not a dream or a vision; Gideon gets a visit from not just any angel but from the angel of the Lord; pre-incarnate Jesus came directly to him and when God calls, you know it’s serious and you better pay attention.

Now the angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites. And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.” – Judges 6:11-12 (ESV)

This is such a lovely verse, the way God calls the things that are not, as though they were (ref. Romans 4:17). God speaks who we are before we even become, before we even have a clue of the person we truly are.

God proceeds to send Gideon on a mission to save the Israelites, but he doesn’t see himself as the mighty man of valor; Gideon sees himself and his entire family as the weakest in the tribe of Manasseh (v 13).

Gideon does not feel able to do what God wants him to do. He respectfully protests and even though God reassures him that because He will be with him, he will be victorious, Gideon still asks God for proof. Gideon wanted a sign from God.

Sounds familiar? Don’t pretend that it doesn’t resonate with you.

 Just like Gideon, we forget that when God calls, He equips and enables us to do whatever it is He calls us to do, even if we believe that we’re not strong enough, or too young, or too old, or afraid, or don’t have the right connections, or we are uncomfortable, or think that we are simply not able to accomplish the task.

When God calls, He already knows who He is calling; God did not call you by accident, it’s not a wrong number situation. God has your contact number and when He calls it you need to answer, “Here I am! Send me.” (ref. Isaiah 6:8). God is probably preparing you for a job all now but hasn’t called you yet.

Beloved, when God calls you, trust Him completely, with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know (Proverbs 3:5 GNT). God won’t send you out on your own, He will be with you every step of the way; He will provide you with everything you’ll need to get the job done.

Spoiler alert…

Gideon defeated the Midianites, but you should read the whole story for yourself. 

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “When God calls” © 2026 July 7, 2026

What about Cozbi?

 

Cozbi or Kozbi in some bible translations, is introduced to us in Numbers chapter twenty-five. Her story is no more than a blip on a page, but she turns out to be an unintentional heroine since she inadvertently saved the Israelites from certain annihilation.

A long short story…

The Israelites, still on their sojourn through the desert towards the Promised Land, set up camp near Acacia. While there, on the cusp of Canaan, the Israelite men, enticed by Midianite women, fell into sexual and spiritual immorality. Needless to say, they incurred the ire of God with their wanton sexual behaviour and idol worship, eating the sacrifices offered to these false gods.

God directed Moses to have these men killed.

The Lord said to Moses, “Get all the leaders of these people. Then kill them so that all the people can see. Lay their bodies before the Lord. Then the Lord will not show his anger against all the Israelites.” – Numbers 25:4 (ERV)

Not long after Moses had informed the leaders of God’s instructions, one of the family heads from the tribe of Simeon named Zimri, openly committed immorality with a Midianite woman, in the sight of Moses and in the sight of the whole congregation of the people of Israel, while they were weeping in the entrance of the tent of meeting (v 6).

Phinehas, a priest who witnessed the indecent act, was so outraged that he executed them on the spot, which immediately brought to an end the plague on the people of Israel (v 8).

That woman was Cozbi. She was the daughter of a Midian chief.

The name of the Midianite woman who was killed was Cozbi daughter of Zur, who was the head of a clan, an ancestral house in Midian. – Numbers 25:15 (NRSVUE)

This account in Numbers chapter 25, reveals the inherited fallen, sinful nature of mankind (see Romans 5:12).

You see, the wilderness was the place for the Israelites to learn to live in covenant with God and as a community where God lived among them as sovereign.

The Israelites’ trek in the wilderness was to enable the purging of their adopted Egyptian personality and the creation of a new identity as the covenant people of God.

Therefore, behold, I will allure Israel And bring her into the wilderness, And I will speak tenderly to her [to reconcile her to Me] – Hosea 2:14 (AMP)

This was to be the beginning of a marriage between God and His beloved people, but the men broke that bond that was building when they were mere steps away from the Land of Promise.

From the ancient root words, the wilderness is, in essence, the “place of the word”, however, the Israelites did not heed the word of God, instead they went about doing their own thing in utter violation of the word.

Zimri had allowed himself to be enticed by Cozbi. Her position as the daughter of a high-ranking leader in Midian, indicates that Zimri, a leader in his tribe, may have been deliberately chosen as one who must be led astray at all costs – the cost he paid was indeed high.

The plague had already broken out and was ravishing the people of Israel, and it was while Moses and all the elders of Israel were gathered together at the entrance to the Meeting Tent (v 6) to pray for mercy that Zimri, an Israelite, committed this lude and lascivious act with Cozbi, a Midianite, for all to see. She purposely participated in a flagrant breach of his God’s law; the true God that was not known by her, for she was a worshipper of Baal, a false god.

All this did not matter to Phinehas, who in his rage, applied to her, the same decree meant for the offending Israelite men. She was not spared – one spear pierced them both. Phinehas’ killing of Cozbi and Zimri became an act of expiation as it eliminated the wrath that God had against the Israelites. God considered it a covering, a transfer of Israel’s guilt to them as an acceptable atonement for sin (see Leviticus 1:1-4).

“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me? – Jeremiah 32:27 (ESV)

Beloved, unlike Cozbi, you know the true and living God, so don’t become a willing participant in someone else’s disobedience or purposely entice others to disobey God.

Forty years in the wilderness was a long time but the experience, just as it was then, still defines the nature of our covenant relationship with God; it is where faith and perseverance are exercised, and where trusting God for guidance and provision is a daily endeavour.

May God bless you as you learn to appreciate where you are on your journey and see the value of being in the place of the Word (see John 1:1 & 14).

Amen † 

 

Shelley Johnson “What about Cozbi?” © 2026 July 6, 2026