On the road to Pentecost: The Holy Spirit works through you

Jesus Christ told His disciples,

“…the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father…Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father…And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” – John 14: 10-12 & 16-17 (ESV)

Another Helper, the Spirit of Truth, dwells in you and works through you if you are re-born in Christ Jesus, and the work of the Holy Spirit through you is distinctive. He imparts a special gift for a specific purpose. Chapter twelve of Apostle Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians explains that the one Spirit imparts diversities of gifts.

It is God’s desire that you become an instrument, a vessel, through which His Holy Spirit may work. As He takes complete control, it’s no longer you but Him – His thoughts, His words – “expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words”, so when one listens to you, they are actually listening to the voice of God.

1 Corinthians 2:13, as it is written,

“This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.” (NIV)

When the Holy Spirit is allowed to work through you, you operate in and by the Spirit’s power.

Jesus is the epitome of this Truth. Throughout His life and ministry here on earth, and even after His resurrection, He operated by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus was born of the Holy Spirit – Luke 1:35

Jesus met and overcame temptation through the power of the Holy Spirit – Luke 4:1

Jesus was anointed and equipped for service by the Holy Spirit – Luke 4:14, 18, 19; Acts 10:38

Jesus performed miracles in the power of the Holy Spirit – Matthew 12:28

Jesus led a spotless life by the Holy Spirit working through Him – Hebrews 9:14

Jesus won the victory by the power of the Holy Spirit – Hebrews 2:14; 1 John 3:8;

“In solemn truth I tell you, anyone believing in me shall do the same miracles I have done, and even greater ones…” – John 14:12 (TLB)

Beloved, in John 14:12, Jesus is speaking about you. As He did with Jesus, the Holy Spirit also equips you for His service through the gift that God determines to give you so that you may accomplish His will and purpose here on earth.

As you continue on the road to Pentecost, allow the Holy Spirit to work through you by committing each step of your way to Him.

Amen†

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shelley Johnson “On the Road to Pentecost: The Holy Spirit works through you” © 2013 revisited April 30, 2025

On the road to Pentecost: The Rushing Wind

“Rushing wind blow through this temple, blowing out the dust within, come and breathe your breath upon me, I’ve been born again”  [lyrics by Keith Green]

On that first Pentecost, the apostles of Jesus Christ had been in preparation ten days for the coming of the promised Spirit. They did not know what to expect but they trusted their Lord Jesus Christ.

On the road to Pentecost, we have no idea what to expect, but like the apostles, we have to trust our Lord Jesus Christ. Are we truly prepared to receive the Holy Spirit in all His fullness of power?

“And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.’ [ESV]

If Spirit comes as He did in Acts 2:2, do you know how you’d react? Think about what your reaction would be if suddenly there came a sound from heaven “like a mighty rushing wind, and filled the entire house” where you are sitting. You might easily imagine what that may be like and how you’d react, but not until it actually happens would you know for sure what your reaction would be.

Know that if you are a born-again believer, the Wind is already here. But sadly, the Wind is not often perceived.  You must pray to become sensitized to the Holy Spirit living inside you; to experience that in-filling of rushing Wind right where you are sitting.

“If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” Romans 8:11 (ESV)

As a born-again believer, the indwelling Holy Spirit takes you from where you are to where God wants you to be and who He wants you to become. Spirit transforms you to live in freedom, enables you to walk by faith not by sight, equips you to establish a deeper connection to God, enhances your capacity to understand the spiritual and empowers you for your God-given mission.

Beloved, as you journey on the road to Pentecost, may you awaken to the reality of the Divine Presence within you, become keenly aware of His ever-present comfort, and know the sustaining holiness of a newly enriched life.

Amen†

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shelley Johnson “On the Road to Pentecost: The Rushing Wind” © 2013 revisited April 28, 2025 

On the Road to Pentecost: “the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit”

“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” 2 Corinthians 13:14 (NIV)

Think about the following question for a moment,

As you say, share and hear the Apostolic Benediction, do you have an appreciation of its significance?

Do you know what is meant by “the fellowship of the Holy Spirit”?

Too many Christians give little or no consideration to the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, who lives in complete harmony with the Father and the Son, neither separate nor subordinate but equally God.

The Holy Spirit moves in tandem with the Father and the Son, taking you along on that journey when you are in fellowship with Him. The Holy Spirit is neither distant nor unreachable for He dwells within your born-again self.

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own” 1 Corinthians 6:19 (NIV)

"Dove" by H Lee Shapiro

When you accept Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, just as the Holy Spirit, as a dove, descended upon Jesus, so He descends upon you, the believer. The Holy Spirit comes and lives inside you in constant and continuous fellowship, partnership and comradeship.

To be in fellowship with God’s Holy Spirit is no ordinary relationship, it involves an intimacy that is extraordinary, beyond our natural capacity to imagine.

To be in fellowship with the Holy Spirit is to be infused with Spirit’s essence; it is to be immersed in a renewed life where faith transcends human limitations, and transformation of your mind is an every-day experience.

When you are in fellowship with the Holy Spirit, He is an ever-present friend, always available to you to comfort, guide, counsel, teach, lead, and bear witness to Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit lives in every born-again believer and it is through the Holy Spirit at work deep within you that enables you to appropriate to yourself the infinite fullness of the grace of Jesus Christ and the all-encompassing love of God.

To be in fellowship with the Holy Spirit is to exist in the profundity of His Presence, no longer fixated with the natural but transfixed by the spiritual.

“You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.” Romans 8:9 (NIV)

The Holy Spirit was sent by God in answer to Jesus’ prayer, to be to you what Jesus had been to His disciples during the years of His personal companionship with them (see John 14:16,17).

Jesus was with them day after day, week by week, month by month and year after year; an ever-present, loving and devoted Friend, a mighty Helper, and a compassionate Comforter and this is exactly what Spirit is to you. He literally lives in the depths of your being every minute of every hour and every hour of every day.

The Holy Spirit takes possession of you in fellowship. And just as the Father and the Son are worthy of your adoration and your praise, so too is the Holy Spirit of God. He is worthy to receive your love, your faith and your complete surrender to Him.

To be in fellowship with the Holy Spirit is to step into the depths of the hidden wonders and mysteries of the Divine.

“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.” John 16:13 (NIV)

Being in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit is living a life where every moment is consumed by the grace of Christ Jesus and the depths of God’s relentless love.

Beloved, as you journey on the road to Pentecost, awaken the Spirit of God that abides within you, and pursue true fellowship with Him.

Amen †

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shelley Johnson “On the Road to Pentecost: the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit” © 2013 revisited April 27, 2025

On the Road to Pentecost: Prepare to Meet the Holy Spirit

Pentecost, the day Christians commemorate the descent of the Holy Spirit, the supreme Gift of God, upon the twelve apostles and other followers of Christ. 

Are you, like the apostles, preparing to welcome the Holy Spirit of God into your life? Are you ready to meet the Holy Spirit?

“In a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit…” [Acts 1:5]

On the road to Pentecost, you ought to get ready for the coming of the Person of the Trinity who desires to give to you a Life you’ve never before known.

In the coming days, meditate upon the Holy Spirit and pray for revelation of the deep things of God. Spirit will be speaking, so listen attentively to what is said to you, for it is written,

“He who is able to hear, let him listen to and give heed to what the Spirit says…” – Revelation 2:7 (AMPC)

“He who has ears to hear” is repeated throughout the Word, and whatever follows this command is important for us to “give heed to”.

What Spirit says, we should not miss, so pay attention, focus and do not ignore what you hear, as it is vital to your spiritual growth, relates to your fellowship with God and the restoration of your abundant life in Christ (John 10:10), for the verse goes on to say,

 “To him who overcomes (is victorious), I will grant to eat [of the fruit] of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.”

What a promise! To be given the honour of eating from the Tree of Life in the paradise of God. Meditate on that for a moment.

Beloved, as you travel on the road to Pentecost, may Almighty God bless you with wisdom and understanding. I pray that you will not be distracted but will pursue enlightenment from His Holy Spirit who speaks out of the depths of His own glorious wisdom, the precious Truth of God.

Amen†

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shelley Johnson “On the Road to Pentecost: Prepare to Meet the Holy Spirit” © 2016 revisited April 26, 2025

On the Road to Pentecost

Pentecost – fiftieth [day] – celebrated fifty days after Easter, is a commemoration of when the promised Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples of Jesus in a most fantastic way.

On the fiftieth day after the Feast of Passover, the apostles were all in Jerusalem for the Feast of Weeks, variously called the Feast of Firstfruits or the Feast of Harvest.

“The Harvest Festival (Festival of Pentecost): Fifty days later you shall bring to the Lord an offering of a sample of the new grain of your later crops." – Leviticus 23:15-16 (TLB)

The Old Testament records it as a time of festivity where, observing much ritual and ceremony, the first fruits of the grain harvest of the later crop were dedicated to God.

This feast first began when the sojourning Israelites had crossed over into Canaan during their first year in the Promised Land after they had harvested their first fruits.

"Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you come into the land which I give to you, and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest." – Leviticus 23:10 (NKJV)

The first fruits were a physical offering unto God, but the more meaningful spiritual offering was yet to come.

Acts 2:1-13, describes the event that transformed the Jewish feast into a Christian festival. The event was the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus Christ had promised will come, upon all believers present.

On that particular day they were all gathered physically to dedicate the harvest but unknown to them, God had gathered them in, like a harvest, spiritually.

That experience of the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in their lives fulfilled the explicit promise of Christ and was at the same time the beginning of the firstfruits of the Spirit however, Christ who made the promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit (John 14:15-17), became their Firstfruits Offering before God.

"But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died…But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back." – 1 Corinthians 15:20, 23 (NLT)

Pentecost can be seen as the spiritual counterpart to the Feast of Weeks.

As we travel on this road to Pentecost, let us meditate on these things so that we can gain a better understanding of how it relates to our own lives as Believers.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “On the Road to Pentecost” © 2025 April 25, 2025

 

 

 

Now Faith

Do you realize that you use your faith every day? Yes, faith is for everyday life – now faith.

Dealing with your fellow man often demands faith.

Faith is required to turn the other cheek when you feel the need to retaliate.

Faith is required to love the unlovable – to love your neighbour as yourself.

Faith is required to forgive others. The disciples became so perplexed when Jesus commanded them to forgive, not just seven times but seventy times seven, that they told Him, 

“Make our faith greater.” (Luke 17:3-5).

Jesus went on to explain to them that they did not need greater faith or an increase of faith, but they needed to exercise the faith they already had. 

“If you had faith as big as a mustard seed…” – Luke 17:6

Jesus was showing them that their mustard-seed-sized faith has great potential, and what was required, was for them to put their faith into action.

Just as Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Caleb, Rahab, Ruth, David, Esther, and others acted upon their faith, we too, like the disciples are urged to put our faith into action. 

The faith that you possess is enough. It grows stronger and more efficient when it’s put to use. In Luke 17:7-10, Jesus says that you are the master of your faith – faith is your servant, and it must be put to work for you. 

Hearing the Word brings a revelation of faith (Romans 10:17), it feeds your faith and your faith grows. Understanding the Word gives you knowledge of the faith you have already been given.

There is only one faith and it’s from God (Ephesians 2:8; 4:5); it is already inside you, and it’s meant to be used now.

So, stop praying to get faith...that is in violation of the Word. Instead, pray for a deeper understanding of the faith you already have in Christ (Philemon 1:6). 

Amen †

 

 

Shelley Johnson “Now Faith” © 2013 revisited April 24, 2025

 

Precious Faith

 

“It’s faith, it’s faith. It’s a flower of light in a field of darkness.” – the character Eli, from the movie The Book of Eli, quoting Johnny Cash. 

Faith is indeed a light during those times when everything in our lives seems to be dark and we don’t know which way to turn. Faith gives us the strength we desire to carry on even when we cannot see our way. Faith is having complete confidence in God. Jesus said to His disciples, in Mark 11:22, “Have faith in God.” and He is saying the same thing to us today. 

Don’t ever believe that you have no faith. Faith is already in you. Hear what the Bible tells us in Romans 12:3, as it is written, “…the measure of faith God has given you.”

God has given to each person “the measure of faith”, therefore you too have the gift from God of the measure of faith inside you, right now. Notice, it’s not a measure, it is the measure – God uses one measure and it is the same for everyone and it’s a full measure.

Do you realize that it is through your faith in Jesus Christ that you are born again, re-born or born from above? Hear the Word of God,

“For through the living and eternal Word of God you have been born again as the children of a Parent who is immortal, not mortal.” – 1 Peter 1:23

Receiving Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, requires deep faith. Believing that Jesus Christ was crucified upon a cross at a place called Calvary and that on the third day after His crucifixion was resurrected from death and is now seated at the right hand of God the Father, our immortal invisible Parent, requires profound faith. 

“…know that a person is put right with God only through faith in Jesus Christ…” – Galatians 2:16

Born again, you live by the faith of Jesus Christ. And, being conscious of the fact that you have the faith of your Saviour, Jesus Christ, will make a difference in every area of your life. This truth will affect your hopes and your expectations.

Understand that God’s Word had to be heard in order that we might receive His supernatural faith contained in it to receive our salvation. God’s Word is Jesus Christ (see John 1:1,14; 1 John 1:1-3).

Peter, servant and Apostle of Jesus Christ, said, “To those who through the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ have been given a faith as precious as ours…” – 2 Peter 1:1

Beloved child of God, you have the same precious faith that Apostles Peter and Paul had – anything they did, you can do. 

Jesus said, “I am telling you the truth: whoever believes in me will do what I do – yes he will do even greater things, because I am going to the Father.” – John 14:12

Beloved child of God, you have the faith of the Son of God – anything Jesus did, you can do. 

Today, instead of griping about your lack of faith, know that your born-again spirit is powerful and praise and thank God for the measure of faith He has already given. It is a precious gift. 

 Amen † 

Shelley Johnson “Precious Faith” © 2013  revisited April 23, 2025

 

Faith Alive

 

lakeside in St Madeleine Trinidad

James 2:26, as it is written,

For as the human body apart from the spirit is lifeless, so faith apart from [its] works of obedience is also dead. (AMPC)

If you have faith and do not operate in that faith, then that faith is as good as dead – operating in faith, spiritual faith, gives that faith life. “Works” speaks of spiritual work, rather than moral work. It is the work of faith. It is working in faith.

This passage of Scripture is often misinterpreted in that, we read it, then start rushing around in our own strength searching for “good works” to perform. That manner of good work cannot bear witness to our faith. Running off to feed the homeless and donating used clothing to the poor, are indeed good to do, however, are not the “good works” to which James was referring. He was talking about acting on our faith, in order to activate our faith. 

James 2:14, 17, as it is written,

What is the benefit, my fellow believers, if someone claims to have faith but has no [good] works [as evidence]? Can that [kind of] faith save him? [No, a mere claim of faith is not sufficient—genuine faith produces good works.] So too, faith, if it does not have works [to back it up], is by itself dead [inoperative and ineffective]. (AMP)

We must be obedient to the faith we profess to have.

James 2:20, as it is written,

Are you willing to be shown [proof], you foolish (unproductive, spiritually deficient) fellow, that faith apart from [good] works is inactive and ineffective and worthless? (AMPC)

Read verses 21-25

Abraham worked in faith (operated his faith) when he placed his son Isaac upon the altar – Genesis 22:1-4. That was faith with works.

James 2:22, as it is written,

You see that [his] faith was working together with his works, and as a result of the works, his faith was completed [reaching its maturity when he expressed his faith through obedience].(AMP)

Abraham exercised and expressed and implemented his faith in God by bringing Isaac to that altar – he acted on his faith – he made his faith alive; by his actions, he gave life to his faith; Abraham believed in (adhered to, trusted in, and relied on) God –verse 23 (AMPC) – Abraham conformed to God’s will in thought and in action. He was obedient to his faith.

James 2:24, as it is written,

You see that a man is justified (pronounced righteous before God) through what he does and not alone through faith [through works of obedience as well as by what he believes]. (AMPC)

Here, in this verse, it is made clear, that faith alone, by itself, is not enough. Faith must be made active and released through our working in faith – conducting our lives, living, and walking, in the faith we profess – believing in, trusting completely in, relying on, and depending on God. 

We must be obedient to our faith to make our faith alive. 

Finally, we see in Joshua 2:1-21, that Rahab operated in faith when she hid the two spies. She believed the Lord, that she and her entire family would be delivered. Rahab believed that the sign, the scarlet cord, she would leave hanging in the window would be seen, even amidst the chaos. She had faith and believed that the Lord would indeed use those spies to rescue her and her family. When Rahab sent the two men away by a different route, she was operating in faith – faith with works.

We must act before we see – that is faith with works…that is, faith alive.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Faith Alive“ © 2012 revisited April 22, 2025

 

If Jesus had not Risen from the Dead

Many of you I’m sure have read the Book of James in the Bible. A virtual manual on the topic of faith, James’ teachings are vital to anyone on the spiritual journey. His instruction on faith is an eye-opener for every believer. But did you know that if Jesus had not risen from the dead, James, Jesus’ own brother, would not have become a believer? 

James would have lived and grown up with Jesus, yet did not believe that Jesus was whom He claimed to be, after all John 7:5 clearly states that His brothers did not believe in Him and in Matthew 13:57, Jesus Himself says that He had no honour among His own family. James belonged to the category of persons of whom Jesus asked, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” (ref. Matthew 12:48).

Even Peter, Jesus’ most zealous disciple and one of three in His inner circle, who walked with Jesus throughout His three years of Ministry, was a witness to every miracle that He performed, was atop the mountain at the time of the transfiguration, was himself a walker-on-water, though just for a moment, and, through the divine wisdom declared the truth of Jesus’ identity, did not fully understand Jesus’ earthly assignment until after His death and resurrection. 

This is evident simply because even though Jesus had told the disciples what was about to occur, mere hours later, it was Peter who drew his sword in the Garden of Gethsemane, in an attempt to stop Jesus' arrest (see John 18:10). If Jesus had not risen from the dead, Peter may have remained ignorant of Jesus’ purpose for coming to earth.

Where would we have been today if Jesus had not risen from the dead? Can you imagine?

James’ teaching is critical to our understanding the working of our faith, the joy that is found in various trials we face, the importance of controlling our tongues and the tremendous power that is made available to us through our earnest heartfelt prayer. 

The Book of James, filled with divine wisdom for proper living, would not have been written if Jesus had not risen from the dead.

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
Port of Spain Trinidad

Peter was instrumental in the establishment of the Church, for it was Peter who, by the power of Divine wisdom acknowledged that Jesus was “the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (see Matthew 16:16). To which Jesus, proclaiming “on this rock I will build My church” (see Matthew 16:18), established His congregation upon the truth of Peter’s testimony, yet at the time, Peter himself did not truly grasp the verity of it. 

“Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for our sins in accordance with [what] the Scriptures [foretold], That He was buried, that He arose on the third day as the Scriptures foretold, And [also] that He appeared to Cephas (Peter), then to the Twelve.” (AMPC)

According to 1 Corinthians 15:3-5, Peter was the first disciple to see Jesus alive after the resurrection and was the first to preach the Good News of His resurrection by the power of the Holy Spirit, as recorded in the Book of Acts. The church would not have been built if Jesus had not risen from the dead, for Christ’s resurrection is essential to Christianity.

Amen†

Shelley Johnson “If Jesus had not Risen from the Dead” © 2017 revisited April 21, 2025

“I AM the Resurrection and the Life”

Rejoice! Jesus is alive! Raised from death and seated at the right hand of God today!

 Jesus’ fifth statement of identity [John 11:25] has the power to radically change our perspective of life and death, as it must have for Martha. 

Martha’s beloved brother Lazarus had fallen ill and Jesus was summoned but by the time He arrived, Lazarus had already been dead four days. 

John 11:1, 14, 43, as it is written, 
“Now a man named Lazarus was sick…Lazarus is dead…Lazarus come out!”

Lazarus being brought back from death was Jesus’ final miracle before His own resurrection – a precursor to The Resurrection.

What no-one understood then was, by letting Lazarus die, Jesus was accomplishing something much greater than anyone could have envisioned. When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, He was, in fact, demonstrating His victory over death. Jesus was giving us all a foretaste of what’s to come for those of us who are in Christ. Death is not the end; there is indeed life after death. 

By His own resurrection, Jesus further demonstrated that death is not the ultimate end. Jesus conquered death completely on the cross. When Jesus, from the cross, cried out aloud, “It is finished!”, He was affirming that everything that had been ushered in by Adam’s disobedience was now completely and utterly reversed. And death was included in that. 

Jesus came to give us abundant life [John 10:10]. Abundant life is life beyond this earthly existence, beyond what is seen this side of heaven. Understand that we are eternal beings having a brief earthly experience. Jesus came and restored everything that was stolen in the Garden.

Jesus’ fifth “I AM” statement and what follows [John 11:25-26] is another bold declaration of who He is, the Resurrection and the Life, and what it means. By this, Jesus is assuring us that physical death is certainly not the end but merely a transition to a new life in eternity with Him. Our physical death is the beginning of Life. 

A heart that grasps and believes this Truth, must live differently because truly understanding Jesus as the Resurrection and the Life gives us an eternal perspective, creates purpose in our lives and drives us to live in a way that causes others to see and know the hope we have in Jesus.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “I AM the Resurrection and the Life” © 2013 revisited April 20, 2025

 

 

“Tetelestai!”

If someone had paid off a debt that you owed, would you accept their selfless act or reject it? Wouldn’t you be eternally grateful and accept it rejoicing, especially if it was a huge debt?

Scripture tells us that that is precisely what Jesus did for us.

“and He Himself [Jesus Christ] is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.” 1 John 2:2

When Jesus, from the cross, cried out His last words, “It is finished!” (John 19:30), He was letting the whole world know that everything He came to do had been done in its entirety according to the plan of God, including paying off a debt He did not incur.

Translated in Greek, “It is finished” is just one word, “Tetelestai” which gives a much deeper meaning to Jesus’ powerful last words.

Tetelestai means Paid in Full, in other words, one never has to pay anything towards the debt ever again. 

Jesus’ sacrifice was perfect and sufficient to completely pay off the sin debt that we all owe.

Jesus paid the full price for all our sins when He laid down His life. And when He shouted “Tetelestai!”, it was not only a declaration of triumph but conveyed the Truth of His crucifixion:
although completed in the past, has on-going results in the future.

In other words what Jesus accomplished at Calvary over 2000 years ago is still effective even to this day – it happened yet is still happening with far reaching effects. 

God always has the last word and it is “Tetelestai!”

Amen! †

Shelley Johnson “Tetelestai!” © 2013 revisited April 19, 2025

  

On the Cross

Today Christians commemorate the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, a day of solemn remembrance of the ultimate Sacrifice.

An arduous trial, a horrendous scourging, and a foot-numbing-load-bearing trek to Golgotha, Jesus had endured all of our falling down, then onto a ruggedly hewn cross, He was brutally nailed…9:00a.m.

He hung upon that cursed tree. 

By 12noon, the time when the heat of the day is most intense, complete and utter darkness fell upon the whole earth for 3 hours, 

and, at the end of the darkness, Jesus, looking up, cried out “It is finished!” – the Lamb, was dead. 

Callously nailed through His hands and His feet to inflict the maximum suffering and humiliation that could be meted out, Jesus hung on the cross for 6 excruciating hours.

Too many of us do not really understand the work that was finished on the cross.

Jesus died on the Jewish Feast of Passover.

He was the Passover Lamb.

What Jesus finished on the cross enables our spiritual Passover from darkness into light. 

On the cross, God took everything back to Adam to effect the Passover of every single human being, just as He did in the time of Joshua, when the whole nation of Israel was given the opportunity to pass over as the flow of the Dead Sea was completely cut off.

“Then the waters which came down from above stood and rose up in a heap far off, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt [Dead] Sea, were wholly cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho.” – Joshua 3:16 (AMPC)

Jesus’ crucifixion stopped the flow of death.

He removed the barrier of death.

Everything happened on the cross for a spiritual reason. Jesus suffered the physical so that we can enjoy the benefits of the spiritual. There’s knowledge beyond what you can see.

On the cross, Jesus was fulfilling our death sentence. As you know, a sentence comes after judgment – Jesus was judged in place of you and me, and every guilty sentence was laid upon Him so that we could be acquitted.

He was the innocent paying for the crimes of the guilty.

“When He was hung on the cross, He took upon Himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." – Galatians 3:13 (NLT)

Jesus became sin, He took all our diseases, all our pain, all our anguish…

He became a curse for us so that we may become right with God.

On the cross, even as Jesus took on all of our sinfulness, we remained the object of His love and care. God poured our sin-dead lives into His beloved Son and made us alive in Christ. He nailed our guilty verdict to the cross. The One who brought grace was nailed in grace so that we might experience the mercy of God, the antidote to the curse.

On the cross, Jesus showed the full extent of His love for us. His death provided salvation for “whosoever will”. It was the completion of His assignment on earth, and the glorification of His Father in Heaven.

Isn’t it time that we truly honour what Jesus did for us on the cross?

Amen†

 

 

Shelley Johnson “On the Cross” © 2017 revisited April 18, 2025

 

The Agony at Gethsemane

 

Refer Luke 22:39-46

“Then He withdrew from them…and knelt down and prayed. Saying, Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but [always] Yours be done…and being in agony [of mind], He prayed [all the] more earnestly and intently, and His sweat became like great clots of blood dropping down upon the ground.” – Luke 22: 41, 42, 44

Our Lord Jesus Christ, in His humanity, agonized with the reality He was about to face on the cross at Calvary. When He considered what lay ahead, Jesus knelt down in prayer asking that the cup be removed.

What was this cup to which Jesus referred?

It is the same cup spoken of in Psalm 75:8, 

“in the hand of the Lord there is a cup of His wrath”,

It is the same cup spoken of in Isaiah 51:17, 

“the cup of [the Lord’s] wrath”,

It is the same cup spoken of in Jeremiah 25:15, 

“this cup of the wine of wrath”,

and It is the same cup spoken of in Revelation 14:10, 

“the cup of His anger”.

Jesus was struggling with the thought of drinking the cup that contained all the unbridled anger that God reserved for sinful mankind.

Jesus’ intention did not lie in disobedience to the purpose for which He came but was merely an enquiry as to an alternative.

Being a substitute for sinfulness when one is sinless, understandably, could not be easy to reconcile in one’s mind but Jesus was, by no means, about to shirk His task. He had accepted His role as substitute from the very beginning and was prepared to do the will of His Father.

There was absolutely no doubt that He would drink, for He said to Peter in John 18:11, 

“Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given Me?”

Jesus Christ took our place on that cross, drinking the cup of God’s anger down to the last awful dreg so that we would never have to.  

Jesus paid the debt that we could never pay ourselves.

Jesus understood that it was about something bigger than His human self; He understood that God’s plan was the best plan and, strengthened in spirit by an angel from heaven (Luke 22:43), Jesus could now pray more earnestly, confident in the will of His loving Father. God had planned every detail of Jesus’ life.

Beloved, when we are in agony, anguish, struggling in our minds, we must remember the agony Jesus Christ faced on our behalf knowing that, like Him, God has planned every detail of our lives. With this in mind, let us look, beyond the agony, at the beauty of the Garden. Let us pray, confident that though we may not be delivered from suffering we surely will be strengthened through it.

Amen † 

 

 

 

Shelley Johnson “The Agony at Gethsemane” © 2013 revisited April 17, 2025

 

 

The Gift of the Cross

We are in the midst of the week of Passion, the week leading up to Christ’s Resurrection and of course, the week which includes the day of His crucifixion.

Particularly during this time, let us remember the sheer passion the Father and the Son had for man, and still have. A Father who gave up His one and only Son to an insufferable death on a cruel rugged cross, so that you and I don’t have to experience such punishment, even though it is exactly what we deserve.

“He was handed over to die because of our sins…” – Romans 4:25 (NLT)

Jesus Christ did not deserve this punishment because, unlike us, He was innocent, but “God put the wrong on Him who never did anything wrong…” (2 Corinthians 5:21 MSG). Jesus became sin for us and when He died, sin was put to death once and for all.

That fateful day in Eden, when Adam and Eve fell from grace through sin and were subsequently banished, we all suffered the same fate, however our loving Father had already designed a plan for our restoration through His beloved Son, Jesus (2 Timothy 1:9).

Jesus opened the way (John 14:6).

Jesus fulfilled the reversal of the curse of the Fall and the banishment (1 Corinthians 15:22).

Jesus made a way for each of us to return to Paradise. (Luke 23:43).

Jesus has done what seemed impossible but, as Scripture assures us, 

“Nothing is impossible for God!” (Luke 1:37). 

God can take a hopeless situation and bring complete restoration! By that cross, God gave us back everything that was lost. That cross was His gift to us. Sadly, the truth is that most people, even most Christians, don’t see it as a gift but instead, refer to the cross as a burden that they’re forced to bear. 

Today, I’d like for you to see the cross as the gift that it is – a gift that has never stopped giving (2 Corinthians 1:10), a gift of such incredible value that it defies quantification.

Understand, when Jesus Christ hung on that cross over 2,000 years ago, it was an amazing event that effected a great deliverance. With this single death, the worldwide plague of sin and death was completely destroyed (1 Corinthians 15:55).

The gift of the cross achieved what no moral laws or religious striving could ever achieve. It saved mankind from eternal damnation and gave us eternal life. We do not have to work effortlessly to obtain eternal life, it has been freely given. Our works are of no effect, only His works matter – perfect work by perfect Man. All we need do is accept the gift of the cross. 

When we receive a beautiful and expensive gift from a loved one, we tend to cherish it. We hold the giver and the gift close to our hearts, yet for some reason, this indescribable gift that Jesus has so lovingly given, we seem not to hold in such high esteem. Perhaps it’s because we do not really understand its worth.

As expensive as the perfume in the alabaster jar was (Matthew 26:7), it still cannot compare to the price Jesus paid for the gift of the cross. The cost is more than you and I will ever be willing or able to pay. 

It’s critical for each one of us to comprehend that the gift of the cross is the centre of it all…

Jesus’ crucifixion not only removed all our sin – past, present, and future – 

it healed all our diseases (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24),

made us righteous in God’s eyes (2 Corinthians 5:21),

accomplished the total defeat of our unseen spiritual adversary (Hebrews 2:14),

gave us access to relationship with God, so that we may become One with Him (John 14:6, 17:20-21),

birthed a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17),

effected the New Covenant by the shedding of His blood (Luke 22:20), and

has made possible “Thy Kingdom come…on earth as it is in Heaven” to every individual (Matthew 6:10; John 3:3).

Beloved, Christ Jesus finished the job, He restored all that Adam and Eve lost – every single thing, eternal life itself. Jesus gained it all back for us by the gift of the cross! So, rejoice!

Amen †

 

 

 

Shelley Johnson “The Gift of the Cross” © 2017 revisited April 16, 2025 

 

 

The Power of “Re”

In this Holy week, as we Re-flect on the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ Who Re-linquished the comfort, the splendour and the glory of Heaven to come into this cruel and sin-filled world to Re-deem us all, let us Re-evaluate our lives in light of the Re-velation of Christ.

“…Jesus Christ…though He was God…laid aside His mighty power and glory…” – Philippians 2:5,6,7

Jesus came to Re-turn us to God; to Re-concile us to Him through the cross. Jesus came to save us. He Re-moves our guilty stains, and Re-members them no more.

“I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.” – Hebrews 10:17

But there is something that each of us must do, if we are to Re-ceive this gift of salvation; it’s a simple Re-quirement really:

Believe in Jesus Christ, the One God has sent (John 6:29), Re-alize your sinful condition, Re-nounce your sinful ways, and Re-pent.

God will Re-store you to Himself by Re-creating you in Christ Jesus, and, through the power of the Holy Spirit, you become a new person, internally Re-freshed and Re-newed. Re-born from above, it is a spiritual Re-birth (1 Peter 1:23). 

Your life will be Re-started in intimate Re-lationship with Jesus and your former desires and cravings will seem Re-pulsive. You won’t Re-peat your former behaviour because you’re no longer dead in transgressions but alive with Christ (Ephesians 2:1-5)…this will be your new Re-ality. So Re-joice!

Amen †

 

 

 

Shelley Johnson The Power of “Re” © 2014 revisited April 15, 2025

From “Hosanna!” to “Crucify Him!”

Yesterday was Palm Sunday, a commemoration of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem the week of Passover.

That day, as Jesus rode in on a colt, “many people...spread branches they had cut in the fields” (see Mark 11:8 NIV) onto His path, shouting “Hosanna!” but mere days later, those same people would place the palms behind the cross as they change their tune and shout “Crucify Him!” 

What is it with us human beings that causes us to be so easily swayed? We shift from this way to that way in a breath; from one opinion to an opposing opinion in seconds; crossing the proverbial fine line from love to hate in the wink of an eye. And not one of us is immune from this malaise – we all do it, perhaps some more than others but all of us flip flop from time to time.

Seriously, what moves a person from “Hosanna!” on Sunday to “Crucify Him!” by Friday? Could it be that when Jesus rides into your life, looks “around at everything” (see Mark 11:11 NIV) and sees you like a leaf-full, fruit-less fig tree, offering nothing useful to your fellowman and pulls you up on it, that you’re offended and turn against Him? 

Could it be that when Jesus enters your temple and begins a thorough clean up, getting rid of the things that you have allowed to rob you of a proper relationship with Him that you get so angry that you turn against Him? 

And rather than taking an honest look at yourself, you question Jesus’ authority in your life. Do you prefer to go along your Christian walk bearing nothing but leaves, instead of allowing Jesus to cut away all those branches that aren’t bearing fruit, so that He may enlarge and beautify you?

Or, rather than honestly examining your life, you prefer to maintain a den-of-thieves temple, where any and everybody has free reign to do whatever they want to do in your temple court?

Is it that you want to do Christianity on your own terms rather than follow the teachings of Jesus Christ? Is it that you want to indulge in a “cover-up” of religious acts like a modern-day Pharisee rather than let the Holy Spirit guide you into all Truth?

Everyone who shouted “Hosanna!” on Sunday, recognized Jesus as the One who saves and received Him as Saviour. However, sometime after Sunday, they allow themselves to be “tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching”, becoming influenced by clever people whose tricks and lies sound like the truth (see Ephesians 4:14 NLT). This happens when people choose to remain in a state of spiritual infancy, content with only bearing leaves, reluctant to Spirit’s pruning and cultivation by the Word of God, and don’t truly understand that because Spirit dwells in them they are now Temples of honour. 

As spiritually immature Christians, it is very easy to shout “Crucify Him!” by Friday because immature Christians attempt to build their own foundations, spending their time up keeping centuries-old church traditions and performing religious routines that resemble Christianity while all the while not realizing that they are not building upon the foundation that has already been laid – Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:10).

What have you been shouting lately? If you’ve strayed away from Sunday and are heading towards Friday, check yourself and start shouting “Hosanna!” once more.

Amen†

Shelley Johnson From “Hosanna!” to “Crucify Him!” © 2017 revisited April 14, 2025

 

 

 

Palm Sunday

Sunday, Jesus was about to enter the last week of His time on earth; He knew what awaited Him on Friday. Jesus entered His last week weeping for Jerusalem and the Jews…

“If you only knew…”

But they didn’t know.

Jesus had compassion for them both as He knew what was to come, not just for Him but more so for them, and not just now but in the future – the suffering, the persecution, the desolation.

Jesus’ tears were for everything He had fought to give them yet still they did not understand, but the time was approaching when He must leave to go back to the Father, His mission soon completed…

“If you only knew…”

But they didn’t know.

They had expected a bloody coup but instead they got a humble servant, for Jesus hadn’t come as a violent saviour but as a Messiah who would provoke a quiet revolution in the understanding of authentic spirituality

Jesus was indeed a rebel in His approach, as everything He had taught and displayed went against the grain, but they had wanted a rebel of a different kind…

“If you only knew…”

But they didn’t know.

Sunday, that Sunday, the day of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Jesus rode in on a donkey, not because he could not get a horse if He wanted to but it was a deliberate mockery of the self-imposed celebrity and fanfare of the hierarchy – those of Rome and those of the Temple.

Then, the adoring crowd waved and laid down palm branches to welcome Jesus as they proclaimed Him King. And just like that Zechariah’s prophecy was fulfilled:

“Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” – Zechariah 9:9 (NIV)

A joyous occasion and a time of great celebration, however, soon thereafter, the same crowd would be choosing their kind of rebel, a criminal, Barabbas, over Jesus (see John 18:39-40).

“If you only knew…Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them; they don’t know what they’re doing.” 

Jesus, incarnate, came in humility to fulfil the will of the Father. The Israelites had been expecting a fierce warrior to wage a physical onslaught upon their oppressors, but God fulfils His promises in unexpected ways.

They could not fathom that the battle was a spiritual one. And, it still is, for we are told in Ephesians 6:12 (NIV),

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” 

If they only knew…

But now you know.

During our own times of struggle, we must invite Jesus to the fight, rejoicing in the knowledge that He fights our battles for us (Exodus 14:14; Deuteronomy 1:30, 3:22; 1 Samuel 17:47; 2Chronicles 32:8).

On this Palm Sunday, as you enter the last week of Lent, keep in mind that Jesus has already won the battle and liberated us from sin through His death and resurrection. Acknowledge His finished work and welcome Him into your life with shouts of joy, praising Him as your King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 

Amen †

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shelley Johnson “Palm Sunday” © 2013 revisited April 12, 2025

 

 

 

 

The Anointing of Jesus at Bethany

It was almost Passover, and John 12:1-8 recounts that…

Jesus was in Bethany, at a dinner held in His honour. His dear friends Lazarus, Martha and Mary were also there. Martha, as was her nature, was busy with serving, Lazarus reclined at the table with Jesus, while Mary, as was her nature, was serving Jesus, anointing Him with perfume – nard – then, wiping His feet with her hair.

Nard, a red-rose fragrant ointment was a favourite perfume in those days and the passage tells us that Mary’s nard was pure and expensive. This clearly indicates that anointing Jesus with this precious perfume was, for Mary, an act of real sacrifice. But as John clearly points out, Judas took umbrage at her actions. There is, however, significance in Mary’s perceived extravagance that we must not ignore. 

Judas completely misunderstood the significance in Mary’s sacrifice to the Lord. He saw it from one perspective and one perspective alone – as such a waste. But to Mary it did not matter; she did not even consider the cost. Understand that to serve in God’s Kingdom will cost you (see Mark 10:17-27) but the benefits far outweigh the cost of serving our Lord Jesus Christ.

Judas revealed himself as one who possessed a love of money, which 1 Timothy 6:10 tells us is “the root of all kinds of evil” – it was this weakness that would cause him to wander from the faith, allowing the devil to possess him to betray Jesus (John 13:27; Luke 22:3). It goes to show that privilege of position (Judas was “keeper of the money bag”) is no substitute for loyalty, faith, obedience, commitment and devotion. 

Mary revealed her absolute devotion to Jesus as she lovingly wiped His feet with her hair. Once again, at His feet (see Luke 10:39), she humbly reverenced the Lord. 

Jesus saw Mary’s action as anointing for His burial. The Gospels of Matthew and Mark both suggest that Mary anointed more than just Jesus’ feet. In Mark 14:8, Jesus says, “She poured perfume on my body…” (also Matthew 26:12).

Mary poured this pure and expensive perfume over Jesus’ head, giving us a picture of this fragrant oil flowing down over His entire body. And “The house was filled” with its fragrance. It was the sweetness of her spiritual sacrifice unto the Lord.

“you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ…For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved…” – 1 Peter 2:5 and 2 Corinthians 2:15 (NIV)

That lovely fragrance is the sweet smell of the beautiful savour of the new Life in Christ (2 Corinthians 2:14-16).

God’s beloved, may you be like Mary, understanding that the cost of the perfume means absolutely nothing in comparison to the immeasurable value of serving our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson "The Anointing of Jesus at Bethany"  © 2013  revisited April 12, 2025

“Forty Stripes Minus One”

“From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.” – 2 Corinthians 11:24

Christ endured beating and bloodiness on our account and so we must apply it personally if we are to truly understand and appreciate what He subjected Himself to for us. 

Make a personal application from Christ’s suffering, on your account, at Calvary.

Each stripe was an antidote for every sin you have committed, are committing and will ever commit.

Each lash, of that cat-o-nine tails across His bare flesh was to counteract the poisonous effects of sin in your life.

Each stripe Jesus suffered is significant to fulfill every need you will ever have in your life.

You must realize that Jesus Christ purchased your punishment with His own blood so that you may possess every promise God has made you – it is a gift from Him, through His Son. Embrace the Giver and the gift.

When you are re-born in Christ, His sacrifice becomes your birthright. Do not reject your birthright for a bowl of stew (Genesis 25:30-34) but release your faith to accept and receive it as your pre-eminent right. You must establish Christ’s Passion in your heart, so that His Finished Work would not be in vain.

It was because of His great love for you, that Jesus Christ bore the full brunt of strokes that could have been administered, and with each agonising stripe, provided for you…

 

Salvation                       Acts 4:12 

Forgiveness                 1 John 1:9

The Holy Spirit             Acts 2:38

Redemption                  Titus 2:14

Freedom from Guilt and Condemnation    Romans 8:1-2

Healing                            1 Peter 2:24

Fruitfulness                      John 15:1-8

Faithfulness of God         1 Corinthians 1:9

Divine Weapons                2 Corinthians 10:4

Spiritual Authority           Luke 10:19

Holiness                             1 Peter 1:14-16

Righteousness                    2 Corinthians 5:21 

Sanctification                     Hebrews 13:12

Grace                                John 1:16

Knowledge                        1 Timothy 2:4

Hope                                  1 Peter 3:15

Mercy                                1 Peter 2:10

A New Identity                2 Corinthians 5:17

Love                                 1 John 3:1

Peace                               John 14:27

Joy                                  Acts 14:17

Justice                            Romans 12:19

Rest                                Matthew 11:28

Pardon                           Isaiah 55:7

Safety                           Psalm 4:8

Success                         Joshua 1:8

Abundant Life              John 10:10

A Teacher                      John 13:13

An Advocate                  1 John 2:1

A Mediator                    1 Timothy 2:5

An Intercessor               Romans 8:34

Understanding              1 Corinthians 2:12 

Supply                            Philippians 4:19 

Power                            John 1:12

Humility                        Philippians 2:3. 5

Wisdom                         James 1:5 

Truth                             John 16:13

Victory                          1 Corinthians 15:57

Eternal Life                   John 3:16

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Amen †

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shelley Johnson “Forty Stripes Minus One” © 2013 revisited April 11, 2025

 

  

New Beginnings

Are you truly willing to follow Jesus into the wilderness and allow the Spirit of God to begin your inward transformation? 

In the wilderness, expect to be denied of the usual comforts and pleasures of your life as you journey towards becoming a living sacrifice. But this wilderness is not as barren and as dry as you might think, for even though the fast has begun, it is no ordinary fast, it is a fasting from self (flesh) to feast on the spiritual…

Beloved in this wilderness, you shall be fed from the abundance of God’s own table and drink from the river of His delights (see Psalm 36:7-8).

A new way to be, new life, new beginnings…

“…anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2 Corinthians 5:17[NLT]

Our Abba, Father, is the God of new beginnings. In His unfailing Love, He gives us new hearts and renews right spirits within us so that we may live life anew.

We go through different experiences along life’s journey and every time we go through the wilderness, we come out all the stronger for it – stronger in faith, stronger in understanding, stronger in wisdom and stronger in character.

We come out not as we went in but spiritually well-fed, transformed and ready for the new thing that God has prepared us for – a new person, a new beginning – for we leave the old behind and enter into a whole new way of being.

“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19[NLT]

Let us pray as we begin a new phase of the journey:

Abba, Father, thank You for new beginnings. Thank You for this brand-new phase of my life’s journey. The last one was challenging at times, but I know that You will not give me more than I can endure; I know that all these trials build me up spiritually and I thank You for the plan You have designed for my life. I pray for discipline to remain steadfast in Your plan and the power to get back up if ever I fall. Thank You Abba for being always at my side and for Your Holy Spirit who teaches me how to live my life for You. In Jesus Name, Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shelley Johnson “New Beginnings” © 2013 revisited April 10, 2025