On the Road to Pentecost: Beware of Gift-wrapped Garbage

Enjoying a movie one Sunday afternoon, suddenly it dawned on me just how much obscene language was in it and, even though the storyline was very interesting I decided to change the channel.

You see, it made me think of how easy it is to allow the things of this world to pollute our minds, and I felt, that as a Christian, it was disrespecting the Holy Spirit of God living inside me.

Perhaps we’ve grown so accustomed to the corruption of this world that it’s now considered the norm and our senses have become numb to it.

Too often we, as Christians, compromise – saying things like, “it’s just a little bit of cursing, or vulgarity, or obscenity, or whatever the case may be” – but it’s time to take a stand. Oftentimes our response to sin and those things that can cause us to “fall into evil” (see Proverbs 17:20) are diluted to an attitude of indifference. That’s not good enough, it’s a cop-out. It’s either God’s way or the world’s way, we cannot be carnal lukewarm Christians, neither cold nor hot, like those Laodiceans in Revelation 3:15-16 to whom Jesus said,

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. (NIV)

God hates evil (see Proverbs 6:16-19). He hates the sin but loves the sinner with a redemptive love as we see in Romans 5:8, where Apostle Pauls says,

“But God clearly shows and proves His own love for us, by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (AMP)

Proverbs 8:13 (AMP) tells us, “The [reverent] fear and worshipful awe of the Lord includes the hatred of evil”. 

Beloved, if our reverential fear of God is genuine then we need to be very mindful about what we give access to, hating sin as much as God does (see Psalm 97:10); it’s not any and everything we should allow to enter into our hearts. Yes, it’s difficult to avoid certain images and influences but we need not have them cling to us. We must be vigilant to turn our eyes away from all those worthless and meaningless things that distract (see Psalm 119:37).

Understand that Satan is very skillful in disguising sin – he makes it interesting, inviting, and entertaining. A master of subtlety, he wraps sin up like an irresistible present, making it so appealing that you commit sin without even realizing that that’s what you’re doing. But sin is gift-wrapped garbage designed to lure, corrupt and eventually destroy.

Today, as we continue our peregrination on the road to Pentecost, let us pray that God will give us the power of discernment, so that we may quickly recognize Satan’s gift-wrapped garbage and not be deceived by its shiny packaging. Let us pray that God would teach us His way of hating sin yet loving the sinner, for we have all sinned and fall terribly short of His glory, but praise be to God, by the gift of His grace, we are put right with Him through Jesus Christ (see Romans 3:23-24).

Amen †

 

 

 

Shelley Johnson “On the Road to Pentecost: Beware of Gift-wrapped Garbage” © 2016 revisited May 31, 2025

On the Road to Pentecost: Celebrate God’s Faithfulness and Boldly Claim God’s Future

When you think of someone who is faithful, what kind of person do you imagine? Well, I think of someone I can trust, rely on, depend on…someone who does what she says she’s going to do, a person who always keeps his promises.

We are to think the same of God when we read of His faithfulness, but, with God there is still so much more because being faithful is not something He does, it’s Who He is; it is His character, it is His nature.

Do you realize that Love is the driving force of faithfulness? If you think about it for just a moment, you’d see that without love no-one can be faithful. It is the great love that God has for you and me, and for His Son, Jesus Christ, that allows Him to remain faithful.

In Apostle Paul’s second letter to Timothy, he let Timothy know that God remains faithful because He cannot disown Himself. (2:13)

This means that God cannot deny Himself, is bound by who He is, cannot contradict Himself, and therefore must be true to every facet of His character. In other words, God, who is Love, is also abounding in Faithfulness.

Understand, that contained within the very Fruit of God’s Spirit is the attribute of Faithfulness (see Galatians 5:22-23), therefore Faithfulness, like Love, is an inherent part of God, so, when it comes to God, you cannot divorce one from the other.

God doesn’t suddenly decide that He doesn’t love something or someone. He doesn’t change His mind about His faithfulness based on trends or fashions or how He may feel from one minute to the next. God is steady, steadfast and unchanging (see Malachi 3:6 and Lamentations 3:22-23).

Unlike people who will disappoint you or change their minds, God will always be there for you. His love for you will always be constant and His faithfulness toward you is far reaching. Psalm 57 verse 10, in a translation from Aramaic, describes God’s faithfulness as reaching “unto the roof of Heaven!” 

That’s incredible! 

Too often, we only look for God’s demonstration of faithfulness in certain limited ways and don’t recognize that God’s faithfulness is boundless and all around us, after all, it is His faithfulness that’s holding all of creation together.  

Now that’s cause for celebration!

Believe me when I tell you that the moment you begin to truly comprehend the magnitude of God’s faithfulness, your perspective of life will change. As you realize that He will always be there for you, that He’ll never let you go or let you down, you’ll find comfort in even the worst situations because you know for sure that God really loves you in an amazing way and that will never change.

Beloved, God thinks you’re amazing and has planned your destiny, and not any old destiny but God has taken His time to design a good plan; He hasn’t left it up to you since He wants to ensure that your future turns out great.

In Jeremiah 29, verse 11, God Himself says, “I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” (MSG)

What’s the future you hope for? Nobody hopes for a lousy messed up future. I know I’m not and I’m quite sure you’re not.

Imagine you’re reading a book. Now, you don’t go skipping pages, you’ll read one page then move on to the next. Not so? And when you’re on the page you’re reading, that’s the page you’re seeing, right? Well, that’s how your life is; you can only see one page at a time, but God, the Author of your book, your life, knows every word He’s written on every page of your life, even those things that haven’t yet happened in your sight, He is fully aware of.

Everything that God has planned for your future is for your eternal benefit. He intends for you to have a flourishing finish. And the awesome thing about God is that He watches over His word to perform it, so that you can confidently claim it. Yes, it is that simple.

Remember God’s faithfulness, He is not like man, He does not lie (see Numbers 23:19). God won’t say something and not follow through. He will never make a promise and not act on it. You can confidently take God at His word, believe Him, and trust that, even if it doesn’t seem that way right now, He has already designed a brilliant future for you, and all you have to do now is boldly claim God’s future.

Beloved, God loves you immeasurably more than you can ever think or imagine, and it is out of this unspeakable passion that God is faithful to you and has lovingly created you with a complete plan for your best life ever.

So, as you continue journeying on the road to Pentecost, I encourage you to celebrate God’s faithfulness and boldly claim God’s future, for they are both yours, an inheritance through Jesus Christ, your Lord and your Saviour.

Amen†

Shelley Johnson “On the Road to Pentecost: Celebrate God’s Faithfulness and Boldly Claim God’s Future” © 2017 revisited May 29, 2025

 

On the Road to Pentecost: Invitation to Trust Wholeheartedly

There’s an important question that you must ask yourself and answer honestly; do I really trust God?

If you are born again, then you trusted Him for your salvation, but this question of trust goes beyond that; it’s referring to a day-to-day trust. Do you trust God in your daily life? Do you trust Him through every changing season of your life?

At this very moment, God is extending an invitation to you to trust Him wholeheartedly.

God wants you to know that He is wholly trustworthy so oftentimes He allows you to face circumstances that confront you with His question, “Do you trust Me?” or “Do you still trust Me now?” or “Will you trust Me even if ...?”

Writing this, my heart skipped several beats as I remember those difficult times when God put my trust to the test. This is how God teaches us to trust Him. Learning to trust God wholeheartedly is always a painful lesson.

A familiar Bible verse tells us, Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. (Proverbs 3:5 NRSVUE)

Our capacity to gain an accurate understanding of God’s actions and reasoning eludes us as His ways are higher than our ways and far exceed anything we could imagine (see Isaiah 58:8-9).

Beloved, the truth is, reality isn’t always what it seems. It is limited to physical sight and human reasoning. Things may look a certain way to you, but it is never how you see it or what you think.

“I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.” (see Isaiah 46:9 & 10 NLT)

God is all-knowing. He knows what has been and what is to come. He sees all things at once, the past, the present and the future – backward and forward in time. God sees the beginning and the end at the same time. His perception of reality and ours bear no resemblance.  

To trust God wholeheartedly is to affirm in whom your security, dependence and reliance lies.

To trust God wholeheartedly signifies that you have anchored your existence in Him.

To trust God wholeheartedly is to know beyond a shadow of doubt that He has your best interest at heart.

Wholehearted trust in God settles deep within your soul.

Life can be difficult at times, but your God understands your struggles, your pain, the challenges you encounter, the stress and the problems you may face.

Even on the road to Pentecost, you may be going through something; seek His face in your misery and accept His invitation to trust wholeheartedly…

Feeling torn to pieces? Trust God wholeheartedly for your reconnection.

Battling an ailment? Trust God wholeheartedly for your healing.

Swallowed by grief? Trust God wholeheartedly for comfort and peace.

Beloved, trust that God will bind up your wounds, after two days He will revive you and on the third, He will restore you. Press into God and trust Him wholeheartedly.

(adapted from Hosea 6:1-3 ESV)

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “On the Road to Pentecost: Invitation to Trust Wholeheartedly” © 2025 May 28, 2025

 

On the Road to Pentecost: Invitation to Love Deeply

When God created man, He lovingly breathed His own breath into our lungs, animating us to life through His Life.

The time came when the Lord God formed a man’s body from the dust of the ground and breathed into it the breath of life. And man became a living person. (Genesis 2:7 TLB)

And within His Life was His Love…we were birthed in love. God is love (see 1 John 4:16)

Then, the fall happened, and that love was lost as a casualty of sin; that fall was about disobedience, which involved misplaced desire. Humanity replaced the sacred with the profane. The love connection was broken, not on God’s part but on man’s; we forgot how to truly love.

But Jesus,

For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son (see John 3:16)

Jesus came to restore all that was lost and stolen – to bring us back to God and to His love. That is Good News! John 10:10 says that Jesus came that we may have an abundant life. That speaks of a life of genuine authentic love – love for God with all your heart, soul, and strength, and love for neighbour as yourself; a life full of meaningful relationships rooted in the Love that only God can give. Jesus came to bring us back to the garden of intimacy.

Deep within each of us exists that instinctual need for the love that was presumably lost that fateful day in the garden. We are always searching for it, in all the wrong places though because the love we think we want is not the love we need.

What if the love you’re chasing isn’t the love you’re meant to have?

What if the love you are yearning to give and to get is not physical but rooted in the spiritual?

Human beings crave connection but it’s not the connection that is dictated by the world’s skewed standards. It is the connection that was severed by the fall in Eden.

You are connected yet lonely; engaged yet disconnected; involved but there’s distance. What is happening? If love is distant then it’s not love. You say you’re in love, but your heart feels empty.

Our souls long for a deeper love a more authentic love…love that is very patient and kind, love that is never jealous or envious, love that is never boastful or proud, love that is never haughty or selfish or rude, love that does not demand its own way, love that is not irritable or touchy, love that does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong, love that is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out, love that is loyal no matter what the cost, love that always believes in you, love that always expects the best, love that always stands its ground in defending you, love that goes on forever. (see 1 Corinthians 13)

Now that is a tall order! Can this love ever be found? Yes, but in God alone. It cannot be found in its entirety in corrupted humanity, but we can find elements of it in ourselves and in others. We can learn to love again. We can aspire to reach the profundity of such love.

Beloved, authentic love is shaped by depth not only pleasure. Love that is based on pleasure alone will eventually dissolve into inadequacy.

Our love must grow out of the Love that comes from God; it’s the only way that we can truly love Him, ourselves and one another.

“…you see, our love for him comes as a result of his loving us first.” (1 John 4:19 TLB)

God is extending to you an invitation to love deeply.

Make space for God. Make time for God. Be motivated to love by God’s love for you. Intentionally choose to love. Choose intimacy with God rather than fleeting indulgences. Seek what is best, not just for yourself but more so for others.

“…put on and wrap yourselves in [unselfish] love, which is the perfect bond of unity [for everything is bound together in agreement when each one seeks the best for others].” (Colossians 3:14 AMP)

Fully embrace God’s invitation to always act in love that is rich in meaning – His Love.

“Let all that you do be done in love.” (1 Corinthians 16:14 ESV)

God's desire is for you to give and receive love that is harmonious, devoid of the discord of control and selfishness. Love that does not involve your striving to receive it but has a natural rhythmic movement to it. Love that is deep yet light…not burdensome. Love that’s uninterrupted by chaos and confusion and endless drama.

Godly-Love feels and has a sweet fragrance.

Godly-Love is unspoken, there’s no need to announce it to others.

Godly-Love, genuine love, is seen in action and sensed.

Love is the driving force that sustains us on the road to Pentecost. As your journey continues, turn to God to learn how to love; let go of control; let go of your expectations of love – how it should look; love others for who they are and not who you hope they will be…someday.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “On the Road to Pentecost: Invitation to Love Deeply” © 2025 May 27, 2025

 

 

 

 

On the Road to Pentecost: Be Reminded

 

By now we understand that it is God who gives us gifts. But sometimes we get so caught up in these attainments that we allow pride to get a foothold, then we start to identify as the gift – the gift becomes who we are; we’re no longer just Dick or Dora, Boyo or Carla. We lose ourselves to the role of prophet this, and prophetess that, enlightened teacher, and worship leader, best organist and best soloist.

Too many gifted Christians fall prey to that temptation, forgetting from Whom their ability comes, they behave as if they’re God’s gift to mankind, strutting about like an open-tail peacock. Success, compliments and adulation can cause swell-headedness, leading to an idealized self-image.

Paul warns us to not “think of yourself more highly than you ought to think” and that “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled”

Sadly, haughty people don’t realize that they are heading for a fall…

“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” – Proverbs 16:18 (ESV)

As you continue this journey on the road to Pentecost, examine your heart in the light of the Holy Spirit, and be reminded…

“…all things come from You, and from Your own hand we have given to You.” – 1 Chronicles 29:14 (AMP)

“For from Him [all things originate] and through Him [all things live and exist] and to Him are all things [directed].” – Romans 11:36 (AMP)

“Every good gift, every perfect gift, comes from above. These gifts come down from the Father” – James 1:17 (CEB)

Amen †

 

 

Shelley Johnson “On the Road to Pentecost: Be Reminded” © 2025 May 26, 2025

 

 

 

On the Road to Pentecost: Another Mountain

After years of living away from home and in different countries, someone very dear to me, just shy of turning forty, decided to pack up twenty-two years of the life she’d made abroad, and return home. Physically this couldn’t have been an easy task but spiritually, through much prayer and contemplation, she was prepared. And so, she journeyed the several thousand kilometers to uncertainty, remaining confident that God has her back.

How many of you at the age of forty or older, established in your job, and comfortable in your own home, would be willing to pack it all up and venture into unsure territory, in a totally new direction? For some reason her story made me think of the Bible’s Caleb, who at eighty-five years old chose to climb a mountain. You see, it appears as though that’s exactly what she has also chosen to do, and at first glance, this may seem like a bad thing, an against the odds kind of journey, but take a good look and perhaps you will see something else emerge.

We always remember what Jesus said about removing the mountain (see Matthew 17:20; Mark 11:22-23) because it’s a well discussed verse but the Bible does talk about other mountains. Mountains where the Lord met with His chosen ones. Places that were spiritually charged with God’s presence and the movement of the Holy Spirit. For example, Mount Sinai is where Moses first met God and twice after that, for forty days and forty nights. Moses also climbed another mountain in order that he should espy the Promised Land.

David’s mountain was Mount Zion, a fortress he conquered from the Jebusites (see 2 Samuel 5:6–9), there he lived and talked with God. And what about Jesus? Jesus spent a great deal of time on the mountain in fellowship with God. It was up a mountain that He led His followers to deliver the Beatitudes, and it was where He multiplied the loaves and the fish. Jesus’ transfiguration took place on yet another mountain.

Mountains aren’t always symbols of opposition, there is another mountain where we can have a supernatural encounter with God – Father, Son and Spirit. It was upon a mountain that Moses received God’s Word, and where Jesus received supernatural empowerment. Mountains often represent places of great spiritual breakthroughs.

Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said… So now, give me this hill country about which the Lord spoke that day, for you heard on that day that the [giant-like] Anakim were there, with great fortified cities; perhaps the Lord will be with me, and I shall drive them out just as the Lord said. (Joshua 14:1 & 12 AMP)

So yes, Caleb did indeed ask for his mountain even though he knew that he would come face to face with sure giant-like opposition, but he was confident in God’s power and His promise.

Beloved, while on the road to Pentecost, when you are faced with yet another mountain of what appears to be giant-like opposition know that the Lord is with you, to empower you and to bless you.

Amen†

 

 

 

Shelley Johnson “On the Road to Pentecost: Another Mountain” © 2016 revisited May 26, 2025

On the Road to Pentecost: Pray and God Will Make a Way

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; when through the rivers, they won’t sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you won’t be scorched and flame won’t burn you.

The Lord says—who makes a way in the sea and a path in the mighty waters,

I’m making a way in the desert, paths in the wilderness. (taken from Isaiah 43:2, 16 & 19)

God’s Words never die; they are always relevant in every time and in all seasons. The psalmist tells us that God has exalted His Word (see Psalm 138:2), so if Isaiah, God’s own prophet, said that God will make a way, then that Word still holds true even today. However, it’s up to us not to just believe it, but if we are to experience the full measure of this truth, we must be people of prayer.

Can you be described as a person of prayer? Do you pray? No matter what your answer, it’s ok because if you do, continue and if you don’t you can start right now.

You must always pray and don’t get discouraged (see Luke 18:1).

Beloved, we need God. Some people feel that they can do life without Him, they believe that they are fine on their own, trekking along this path and that, making their own way; they declare with pride, “I did it my way!” and even though they may be enjoying a form of success it cannot compare to the life of fulfillment that we enjoy when we do it God’s way. The plain truth is, without God we’re limping through life from falling. With God, even when we stumble, we won’t fall, He has us.

Psalm 37:24  

“Though he falls, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord grasps his hand in support and upholds him.”

The Lord grasps your hand in support and upholds you. God does not want any of us to be merely existing, He wants us to live; He sent His son so that we may have life and have it in abundance (see John 10:10); God invites us to be in communion with Him; He calls us to a rich prayer life of meaningful conversation with Himself because He knows that, “No one can receive anything unless it is given from heaven.” (John 3:27 CEB)

Begin and end your days in prayer. Lay your burdens at the Lord’s feet, and intercede for others, your pastor, minister, or priest included. Ask God for wisdom, discernment and guidance. The Word emphasizes the need for prayer as we see in so many passages of Scripture.

 Jesus often took time to pray. Do you know that in the Gospels there are seventeen references of Jesus praying? If Jesus, who was God (see John 1:1 & 14), needed to pray, how much more do we, sinful and easily distracted humans, need to pray?

Apostle Paul said, “Pray continually.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17 CEB)

On the road to Pentecost, make praying a priority, pray continually and be encouraged. Without prayer you’re ill-equipped for the challenges thrown onto your path. If you want to clear your path, and prosper in every area of your life, then seek the Lord (see Jeremiah 10:21) through prayer. Pray and God will make a way,

Amen †

 

 

 

Shelley Johnson “On the Road to Pentecost: Pray and God Will Make a Way” © 2025 May 24, 2025

 

On the Road to Pentecost: Be Still in the Clamour

There is just so much noise and so many voices, too much chatter but there is a way to cancel it all out; be still in the clamour.

In her 1852 hymn, Cecil Frances Alexander wrote,

“Jesus calls us o'er the tumult
Of our life's wild, restless sea;
Day by day his sweet voice sounding,
Saying, "Christian, follow me."

Every day, walk in step with Jesus, follow closely and listen carefully to hear what He is saying. Pray for the ability to discern His voice distinct from the tumult.

Sometimes we can get so busy with life that we forget to be still in God's Presence.

Jesus often took time away from His many demands to bask in and enjoy the Presence of His Father; He withdrew and carefully listened to God.

We must do the same, but for us, this does not come naturally, it is something that must be practiced. We need to hear what God wants us to hear, especially when unexpected change is coming, He desires to prepare us for it but if we're listening to other voices and not to Him, then we will miss what He has to say. 

Beloved, push aside those distractions of life, so that you may be more fully attuned spiritually. God must be your number-one desire. As Psalm 37 verse 4 tells us…

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.

Yes, delight yourself in Him, in His glory and in His will. Pay attention to God, let your focus be on Him. Pray, commune, fellowship with him, read His Word, enjoy time in His Presence, in this way you’ll be actively strengthening your bond to Him – Father, Son and Spirit – and when that deep connection is formed, your ability to be still in the clamour, to hear His whisper, will be realized.

And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. – 1 Kings 19:12 (NLT)

You will encounter noise from all directions while on the road to Pentecost. In the midst of the clamour determine to become still and listen for the only sound that truly matters…His sweet voice.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “On the Road to Pentecost: Be Still in the Clamour” © 2025 May 24, 2025

 

On the Road to Pentecost: Aren’t You Thirsty?

Have you ever been so thirsty, that every pore in your body seemed to be crying out, “Water! Water!”? But no matter how much water you drink, your thirst is still not quenched. Hmmm, this may not be a physical thirst...

Our Lord Jesus said, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water shall flow from within him.”

The passage goes on to say, “By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive.”

(John 7:37-39)

The Bible clearly tells us that the living water of which Jesus spoke is indeed the Spirit, and we ought to be thirsty for the Holy Spirit of God. In Isaiah 44:3 it is written, “For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring, and My blessing on your descendants.”

It is clear, from the Word, that “thirst” is a condition that precedes the in-filling and the out-flowing of the Holy Spirit. Just as without water life dies, without Spirit we are spiritually dead; like water, Spirit is vital to life.

God has placed into the words of the New Testament, the absolute necessity for every believer to receive the Spirit as a real and definite experience. God brings us to that point of need, where we realize, deep within our beings, an intense desire for more of Him. We feel parched and extreme dryness and we cry out for His water, His Spirit, to saturate us, quench our thirsty souls, refresh us, and bring forth the reality of Life. It is a calling out for the baptism with the Holy Spirit.

As believers in Christ, everything within us should be crying out, “Spirit! Spirit!” We ought to have a yearning for the baptism with the Holy Spirit that Jesus Himself spoke of in Acts 1:5. And when we cry out for God to satisfy this spiritual thirst, we will be transformed from dry, thirsty Christians to Christians that are vibrant and alive, able to share the Life of God’s own Spirit within us with others wherever we go.

Throughout the Word of God, from Genesis to Revelation, the Holy Spirit is symbolized by water and spoken of in relation to water. We also see this Truth as it relates to thirst in Isaiah 35:7, 41:17-18, 43:20, 55:1, 58:11; Jeremiah 2:13; Amos 8:11; Matthew 10:42; Luke 16:24; John 4:4-15; Revelation 22:17.

Aren’t you thirsty?

While walking on the road to Pentecost, purposely cry out, “Spirit! Spirit!” and allow the Holy Spirit to quench your thirst.

Amen †

 

 

 

Shelley Johnson “On the Road to Pentecost: Aren’t You Thirsty?” ©2013 revisited May 23, 2025

On the Road to Pentecost: In search of Piety

There’s a verse in the Bible that says,

For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, (Titus 2:11-12 NLT)

 “We should live in this evil world with…devotion to God”

Devotion to God.

There was a man named Cornelius, a captain of the Italian Regiment, who is described, in Acts chapter 10, as a devout man who, together with his entire household, had a reverential fear of God. It’s said that he gave generously to the poor, prayed all the time and God “remembered” his actions.

And the angel said to him, Your prayers and your [generous] gifts to the poor have come up [as a sacrifice] to God and have been remembered by Him (Acts 10:4 AMPC)

Piety is devotion toward God and love for others. When we are in right relationship with God, piety is automatically birthed. Some may try to feign piousness; however, genuine piety isn’t born from doing right out of some sense of religious duty, genuine piety springs forth spontaneously from God’s indwelling Spirit when we continuously demonstrate character and conduct that reflect Christ. Piety produces present and future happiness and fulfilment.

For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]. Avoid [all] such people [turn away from them]. (2 Timothy 3:5 AMPC)

“We should live in this evil world with…righteousness…”

Righteousness – right relationship with God.

What does it look like to be in right relationship with God? It’s conforming to the standards of God. He always has and maintains a right relationship with people and calls us to do the same.

Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires;

I tell you, then, that you will be able to enter the Kingdom of heaven only if you are more faithful than the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees in doing what God requires. (Matthew 5:6a & 20 GNT)

God always acts in righteousness.

Piety inspires us to do what God requires. We have the capacity to be kind, to understand, to forgive, to be meek, humble, grateful and just, to be creative, to show mercy, empathy and compassion; we are able to reason and communicate and are capable of giving and receiving love.

Piety involves being consciously aware of God’s Presence in every area and all aspects of our lives. It is having respect for His power, authority and wisdom.

“We should live in this evil world with wisdom…”

Wisdom that comes from God.

 But to man He said, Behold, the reverential and worshipful fear of the Lord—that is Wisdom; (Job 28:28 AMPC)

In order to live in this evil world requires us to be wise. Not wise in our own sight but we must hunger after the wisdom that comes from God.

 Be not wise in your own eyes;  fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. (Proverbs 3:7 ESV)

Piety and wisdom are inextricably knitted together. Wisdom enriches piety while piety heightens one’s understanding of wisdom.

A genuinely pious person is willing to acknowledge his own limitations and weaknesses. He relies on Spirit’s guidance, heeds His counsel, depends on Divine instruction and values godly advice from others.

We must be cemented in the wisdom of the Divine. We must pursue godliness.

“And we are instructed to turn from godless living…”

Turn from godless living to living godly lives; lives that emulate the character and behaviour of our incarnate Lord, Jesus Christ.

What does this have to do with piety you might wonder. Well, piety and godliness are two sides of the same coin; they are used interchangeably.

The purpose of godliness is to be a reflection of Jesus. We can only achieve genuine godliness through the power of His Holy Spirit working in us. Piety is a Spirit-driven pursuit.

Having a spirit of piety enables you to understand things from a godly perspective.

Too many Christians display a form of piety in the nave but their conduct in the vestibule – behaviour, in words and actions – “nullifies their claim of faith”. It is high time that we come off the stage of playing church and get serious about our spiritual walk.

I pray that you are not a piety actor, but if you are, know that this performance is mired in self-deception, and may fool some people but not God.

Beloved, if you are in church every Sunday of the year or in every church group or engaged in every church activity or deeply involved in every aspect of the church, but “deny and reject and are strangers to the power of” godliness, then you are more inclined to be devoted to church and not to God. Worshipping the Preacher more than the Creator.

Listen, this will throw you out of spiritual alignment and deform your search.

It’s not our performance of godliness that qualifies us. The Holy Spirit compels us to go in search of piety, not as a conscious deliberate act but through divine communion. We must be spiritually disciplined. The Holy Spirit elevates our spirit to godliness.

Piety is about worshiping God and serving Him and our fellowman out of an authentic love. It is a source of divine communion and a path to infinite love illuminated by the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

Godliness is not an option for those who claim to be Believers devoted to God.

Jesus is our example of piety in action; He lived here on earth in consistent communion with God.

The Spirit of piety teaches us how to appreciate what is holy and leads us into deeper communion with God.

Beloved, as we continue this wonderful journey on the road to Pentecost, our hearts must be in search of piety without consciously seeking it, for if we purposely seek to be pious how genuine will we be; we will be like the people we are told to avoid.

Amen †

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shelley Johnson “On the Road to Pentecost: In search of Piety” © 2025 May 21, 2025

 

On the Road to Pentecost: Give God Your Full Attention

Saul, born a Roman citizen, had all the privileges and advantages of his status. An acknowledged leader of Judaism, highly educated and zealous in his faith, Saul was proud of this distinction and demonstratively opposed to any followers of The Way of the Lord. Saul was convinced that they were heretics and therefore must be exterminated. With determined devotion to his belief, and sure of being on the right course, his persecution was relentless.

On the road to Damascus, Saul, on a mission to arrest these heretical followers of Jesus, had an unforgettable encounter.

As Saul was coming near the city of Damascus, suddenly a light from the sky flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul! Why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” he asked. “I am Jesus, whom you persecute,” the voice said. “But get up and go into the city, where you will be told what you must do.”  (Acts 9:3-6 GNT)

Jesus, Himself! Can you imagine Saul’s absolute shock? Not only was he literally knocked off his high horse, but to hear “I am Jesus” and at the same time be blinded by the brilliant Light? Terrifying! Enough to make a big man cry. And cry he did, I’m sure, while groping around on the ground in complete darkness asking, “Who are you, Lord?” must have been a sobbing enquiry.

God got his full attention.

Moses, after committing murder in Egypt, was on the run (see Exodus 2:11-12). Living life as a fugitive, he was tending sheep and goats for his father-in-law on the far side of the desert near the back side of Mount Sinai, when he had an inexplicable experience.

He saw a bush on fire but it wasn't being consumed by the fire. Curious, Moses went closer to investigate. While moving in for a better look, a voice from within this burning bush called out to him, “Moses! Moses!”

Oh hello…and Moses did not take off running? No, he did not, instead Moses talked back to this talking fiery bush.

He answered, “Yes, here I am.”

God said, “Do not come any closer. Take off your sandals, because you are standing on holy ground. I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” (Exodus 3:4-6a GNT).

God got his full attention.

The course of the lives of both these men, Saul and Moses, changed when they gave God their full attention.

Beloved, when you give God your full attention, your life will be forever changed. You simply cannot go back to the life you lived before. You may have planned out your life but when God gets your full attention…

You may make your plans, but God directs your actions. (Proverbs 16:9 GNT)

Saul had a foolproof plan that day on his way to Damascus. Oh yes, nothing and nobody was going to get in his way; well, he had another think coming, “suddenly…get up and go…where you will be told”

I am sure that Moses never planned to go back to Egypt, but God had a different plan for him. God used Moses to rescue Israel from bondage in that same Egypt and lead His people to the outskirts of the spacious and fertile Promised Land. Not only that, God established a binding relationship with Moses.

Moses climbed that same Mount Sinai, not from the back side, to enter into God’s glorious Presence, to receive God’s commandments. All of this transpired because Moses gave God his full attention, and God used him in ways he could never have imagined possible.

Remember Saul who had planned to make arrests but was himself arrested after his light-blinding groundbreaking encounter with the Lord? Well upon his conversion, he became Paul, the Apostle used by God to open the door of the Gospel of Christ to the Gentiles. 

Paul, with his aggressive teaching ministry, had a profound impact on them causing many a conversion. And his teachings still impact us all as we read the more than three quarters of the books of the New Testament written by him.

When you give God your full attention, He will lead you into a reality that is beyond your current ability to comprehend. There is no turning back because you won’t want to.

Like Moses and Paul, you become keenly aware of God’s Presence as your spirit is set ablaze and suddenly you see the light.

On the road to Pentecost, listen attentively, the Lord knows your name, He wants to speak to you, He longs to change the course of your life. And even though you have no idea which way to go, know that God will direct your path. So, when you hear the call, give God your full attention.

Amen †

 

 

Shelley Johnson “On the Road to Pentecost: Give God Your Full Attention“ © 2025 May 20, 2025

 

On the Road to Pentecost: Baptism with the Holy Spirit – The Results

1 Corinthians 12:8~10 (AMPC)

To one is given in and through the [Holy] Spirit [the power to speak] a message of wisdom, and to another [the power to express] a word of knowledge and understanding according to the same [Holy] Spirit;

To another [wonder-working] faith by the same [Holy] Spirit, to another the extraordinary powers of healing by the one Spirit;

To another the working of miracles, to another prophetic insight (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose); to another the ability to discern and distinguish between [the utterances of true] spirits [and false ones], to another various kinds of [unknown] tongues, to another the ability to interpret [such] tongues.

From this Scripture, it is clear that not everyone receives the same results when baptized with the Holy Spirit. Spirit imparts a varied array of gifts and the power to manifest them in service to God and man.

Never expect to receive power to perform a particular service for God if God has not enabled you. Listen, if God has not called you to it the power will not come, so expecting good results working at something you have not been called to do will only bring failure and disappointment. You must realize that not receiving Holy Spirit power to perform a service and still proceeding in that particular work will not be successful.

To succeed at ministry, you must have been called to that specific work, you must have been empowered, enabled and gifted by the Holy Spirit to perform that service.

Repeat…You need to have been called by God, through the power of His Holy Spirit, to perform that specific work or service.

This truth cannot be emphasized enough. Too many people place themselves in positions of service for which they have not been called by God. This is being presumptuous.

There are different ways of serving and different abilities to perform service, but the same God is served and the same God gives the ability…

And there are distinctive varieties of service and ministration, but it is the same Lord [Who is served]. And there are distinctive varieties of operation [of working to accomplish things], but it is the same God Who inspires and energizes them all in all. (1 Corinthians 12:5-6 AMPC).

Do not be misled in believing that the baptism with the Holy Spirit simply imparts power to perform in a general sense. While power is indeed imparted, that power is manifested according to the specific work to which God has given you the ability to perform – without it, your work will be neither efficient nor effective.

Be aware that even though you have been baptized with the Holy Spirit, without a Word from God, and without the instruction, leading and guidance of Spirit that is necessary, you will not see successful results.

Repeat…You will not succeed in work to which you have not been gifted or called to perform.

As your journey continues on the Road to Pentecost, read 1 Corinthians chapter 12 verses 1 through 11, pray to properly understand the Word, paying particular attention to verses 7 and 11, as it is written,

The Spirit’s presence is shown in some way in each person for the good of all…but it is one and the same Spirit who does all this; as He wishes, He gives a different gift to each person. (GNT)

 

Amen †

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shelley Johnson “On the Road to Pentecost: Baptism with the Holy Spirit – The Results” ©2013 revisited May 20, 2025

On the Road to Pentecost: Let us Pray

Just before we get into our reflection, let’s take a look at the word “AMEN”

After every prayer, chances are we say AMEN, but do we really know what we are saying? Do we really understand that it’s not just a thing we say out of tradition?

AMEN is actually a Hebrew word which is related to two other Hebrew words, EMET, meaning Truth and EMUN, faith or trust.

When we say AMEN we are actually affirming what was said or declaring “I believe this to be true”

So, to say AMEN is a serious thing; it’s not a word which simply concludes a prayer or means “The End”

AMEN is a commitment of agreement. In Jewish culture AMEN was not said by the one praying but only by the congregation as a sign that they were not only in agreement with the words that were spoken but also that they too offered those same words to God.

AMEN is a connector…it connects us to each other. Just as prayer connects us…

“Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8 [AMP]

Jesus makes three specific promises concerning prayer,

 

1. Anyone who asks in prayer and keeps asking receives.

 

2. Anyone who keeps seeking in prayer will find.

 

3. Anyone who keeps on knocking on spiritual doors through prayer would have those doors opened.

 

Asking, Seeking, and Knocking in prayer are integral to the process of receiving what we need and teaches us to be faithful, responsible, and patient, all means of building solid Christian character. The moment we pray, the process begins, as we see in Daniel 10:12.

Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. (NLT)

Prayer is the key to enter into the presence of God – for Psalm 141 verse 2 says, “Let my prayer be set forth as incense before You…” 

Our prayers should come from our hearts, hearts that are pure, “without anger or quarrelling or resentment or doubt [in our minds]” according to first Timothy 2:8. 

We must be true pray-ers, not like those Pharisees who love to be seen, making long public prayers as Matthew 6:5 tells us – they utter useless hypocritical prayers for man’s recognition.

Apostle Paul, in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, exhorts us to “Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly]”. 

God wants to hear from us, His children. He looks forward to it and does not want us to withhold our prayers. Our Lord Jesus was always in prayer; He is our example to follow. 

Jesus prayed for every reason and on all occasions. Jesus taught His disciples how to be effective and efficient in prayer (we read this in Matthew 6:6-15).

The disciples recognized the importance of going to the Father in prayer. And we too must come to that realization; we must bring all our concerns to God in prayer because everything that is of concern to us is of concern to our God and, even though He already knows, He desires to hear about it from us.

Prayer has the power to remove obstacles, break barriers, pull down strongholds, open doors, close doors, change lives, heal the sick, cure addictions, guide the lost back home, enable victories, calm the storms of life, restore broken marriages, create pure hearts, renew steadfast spirits, and strengthen our relationship with God.

Prayer is amazingly effective!

So, as we continue to travel on the road to Pentecost, let us spend time in God's presence through prayer. Let us utilize God's own Word to fashion personal prayers, as we ask and seek and knock. Let us pray.

Let us pray, expecting our prayers to be answered because God's Word does not return to Him without effect (see Isaiah 55:11).

Let us pray, expecting great things to happen in our lives during our conversations with God; remember to listen out for His small, still voice. 

Beloved, we will emerge better off than when we began, as we purposely spend time in His presence.

Shall we say Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “On the Road to Pentecost: Let us Pray” © 2024 revisited May 19, 2025

 

On the Road to Pentecost: The Holy Spirit Reveals the Deep things of God

 

Bequia in the distance, St. Vincent & The Grenadines

Let us read 1 Corinthians 2:9-13, as it is written,

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him (Isaiah 64:4) but God has revealed it to us by His Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught us by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.”

This passage of Scripture clearly tells us, that it is indeed the Holy Spirit who reveals the inconceivable, unimaginable things that God has prepared for the individual believer who loves Him. Conversely, those same things remain hidden from and are actually foolishness to those who have not yet believed – they are still in a natural state of being (see 1 Corinthians 2:14).

As believers, we receive the indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit and through His working in us, we are enabled to receive understanding of spiritual truth. We must, however, put away our own wisdom and, by faith, yield completely to His Spirit; only then will we receive the wisdom of God (see 1 Corinthians 3:18).

We first come to God mired in our carnal nature – formless, empty and blind to the deep things of God (see Genesis 1:1, 2). Then, the Spirit begins to move in us (see Genesis 1:2), working to bring about our spiritual understanding and transformation (see Romans 12:2), and the darkness starts to give way to the light (see Genesis 1:3, 4). In the light, as the Spirit’s revelation unfolds before us, we recognize the insufficiency of our own interpretation of the things of God. 

The Holy Spirit is the Revealer of the deep things of God and is the Interpreter of His revelation. So, as we take our daily walk on the road to Pentecost, let us empty ourselves and depend entirely upon Spirit’s revelation and interpretation, He will give us the power to understand and discern what He reveals.

Amen †

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shelley Johnson “On the Road to Pentecost: The Holy Spirit Reveals the Deep things of God” ©2013 revisited May 17, 2025

On the Road to Pentecost: The Spirit of Counsel and Might

“Out from the throne came flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder, and in front of the throne seven blazing torches burned, which are the seven Spirits of God the sevenfold Holy Spirit]” – Revelation 4:5 (AMPC)

Oh, what an incredibly awesome sight!

Isaiah 11:2,

“And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him…the Spirit of counsel and might…” (AMPC)

Spirit in all His glory rested upon Jesus…that same promised Spirit resides in us when we accept Jesus.

Let that sink in for a moment, maybe more…Do you honestly grasp this?

That same seven-fold Spirit that empowered the incarnate Jesus for ministry and purpose lives in you. Oh beloved, we don’t truly get it.

Found in John 14:12 & 16-17 (AMPC), Jesus said…

I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father… And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever—The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you.

Please, read that again and as many times as you need to.

Yes beloved, you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you and is in you. The Spirit of counsel and might is in you – Counselor, Strengthener. Not my words, not John’s words, Jesus’ own words, His promise to His disciples then, now your reality.

You would know this already, but it is worth repeating, when you are born again, you receive the Holy Spirit in all His fullness. And we can be confident about that because the number seven, seen over and over again in Scripture, signifies completeness or fullness, so everything that the Holy Spirit represents is inside you. Counsel and Might or Fortitude in some translations, are just two of the independent manifestations of the sevenfold Spirit.

Though independent, these seven do not operate in isolation – they are independent and interdependent at the same time.

Simply defined, counsel is advice. Having the Spirit of Counsel is necessary for guidance according to the will of God along this spiritual journey. Spirit searches the deep counsel of God, then reveals it to us (see 1 Corinthians 2:10).

As an authentic child of God, you must seek His counsel. You can’t walk this road without His advice, directions, instructions and leading (see Romans 8:14). Without it you will walk, but you will find yourself right back where you started, because all you’d be doing is walking in circles.

The Spirit of Counsel will always lead you in the right direction. He empowers you to navigate your way through this life.

The Spirit of Counsel is paired with Might or Fortitude for good reason.

Ephesians 3:16 (NIV),

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,

Might is not about the physical but an inner strength to accomplish the counsel of God. In other words, you cannot have counsel without might and having great might without counsel gets you nowhere. The Spirit of Might rested on David; he was rooted in the Presence, the source of the supernatural empowerment that enabled him to slay the giant.

The Spirit of Might is about resilience, it’s about having the fortitude to face the giants of life, being able to get back up when you fall, it’s about being “strong in the Lord and in the power of His might”, having unwavering confidence and trust in God no matter what you feel, hear or see, it’s about being totally dependent on God and garnering the strength to wait on His timing in steadfast faith, it’s standing when no one else is, and not fainting in the day of adversity (see Proverbs 24:10).

Obeying God’s counsel forges profound inner strength.

Beloved, may you receive the full measure of the Spirit of Counsel and Might as your journey continues on the road to Pentecost.

Amen †

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shelley Johnson “On the Road to Pentecost: The Spirit of Counsel and Might” © 2025 May 15, 2025