Prayer

“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]

Hallelujah!

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 (see Daniel 10:12).

Prayer is the key to enter into the presence of God – “Let my prayer be set forth as incense before You…” Psalm 141:2 [AMP].

Our prayers should come from our hearts, hearts that are pure, “without anger or quarrelling or resentment or doubt [in our minds]” 1Timothy 2:8. 

We must be true pray-ers, not like those Pharisees who love to be seen, making long public prayers (see Matthew 6:5) – 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 (read 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, this week we'll be spending time in God's presence through prayer. We shall utilize God's own Word to fashion personal prayers, as we ask and seek and knock. 

Expect your prayers to be answered, because God's Word does not return to Him without effect. 

Expect great things to happen in your life during your conversations with God; remember to listen out for His small, still voice. 

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

 Amen †

Prayer ©2013 Shelley Johnson 13-Jun-13

What I Know

I know that I love God because He first loved me…

God has called me by name, I am His. So, when I pass through the waters, God is with me; and when I pass through the rivers, they will not…yes, they will NOT sweep over me. When I walk through the fire, I will not be burned…no, no, no! The flames will not set me ablaze.

He is the Lord, my God! The Holy One, my Saviour! I am precious and honoured in His sight…and, God loves me…yes, God loves me. God loves me! I was created for His glory…I am His witness whom He has chosen…and…

I know and believe Him, and understand that He is God.

Yes, no one can deliver out of His hand. 

When God acts, no-one and nothing can reverse it…no-one, and nothing (period)

God is my Redeemer, the Lord, the Holy One, my Creator, my King. He makes a way through the sea; a path through the mighty waters – God is doing a new thing! I will NOT dwell on the past. God is making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland…

I know…that, because God loves me, and I love Him, and because He has called me according to His purpose, He is working together all these things I'm going through for my good…

God knows the plans He has for me, plans to prosper me and not to harm me, to give me a future with hope…

I know when I call upon God and come and pray to Him, He listens to me; when I seek God with all my heart, I find Him. I find God and He brings me back – God restores me, and…restores to me. Hallelu Yah! God restores my fortunes!

God is the One Who knows…and bears witness.

I know that God will fulfill His promise to me, His gracious promise of complete restoration – to bring me back…bring me right back to a place even better than it was before, in quality and quantity; double, twice as much, as I had before…and, even more than that!

I know, yes, I know Whom I have believed! And I am convinced that He is able!

I know that God can do ALL things. God can do ALL things!

I know...no plan of His can be thwarted, no purpose of His can be thwarted…the Lord will bless the latter part of my life more than the first. This is my inheritance from God, my Father.

I know…indeed I know, if God is all I have, then I have all I need!

Amen †

(1 John 4:19; Isaiah 43; Romans 8:28; Jeremiah 29:11-14, 23, 10; Job 42:10; 2 Timothy 1:12; Job 42:2, 12, 15; 1 Timothy 1:17; John 14:8)

What I Know Shelley Johnson 13-Apr-2015

From Adam to Noah

When God formed man from the earth, He named him Adam, demonstrating that names have meaning to God. Since then people have been given names. In times of old, only one name was given; some, like “Jacob”, “supplanter”, related to the circumstances surrounding their birth while others’ names were connected to a promise, “Isaac”, “he laughs”.

In the naming of the ten generations from Adam to Noah, is such a case, where each name is connected to a promise. It is the promise that God, in His love and mercy, made to Adam and the woman, immediately after their display of willful disobedience.

“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”

In this verse, Genesis 3:15, lies the promise of redemption. The woman’s Seed Who would bruise Satan’s head, is our Lord Jesus. On hearing this wonderful promise of God, faith must have been implanted into the hearts of Adam and the woman, for it was after hearing that promise, that Adam called the woman Eve. And they believed that through Eve would come, the One Who would redeem all of mankind from the sin that the deception of Eve and Adam's disobedience had brought upon the world.

“And Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.” – Genesis 3:20

The names of those from Adam to Noah, which I investigated for myself, tell us of God’s glorious message of redemption:

Adam…“man”

Seth…“appointed”

Enosh…”mortal”
Kenan…“sorrow”
Mahalalel…“the blessed God”
Jared…“shall come down”
Enoch…“teaching”
Methusalah…“his death shall bring”
Lamech…”despairing”
Noah…”rest”

“Man is appointed mortal sorrow, but the Blessed God shall come down, teaching that His death shall bring the despairing, Rest.”

These ten names, from Adam to Noah, conceal irrefutable evidence of a loving God, Who, from the very beginning had already laid out a plan for the redemption of sinful man.

From Adam to Noah ©2013 Shelley Johnson 13-Oct-13

Church Membership is not Salvation

A person could be faithful in his commitment to attending church every Sunday, even performing good works of service in church but that is not salvation. Church membership does not necessarily mean that a person is saved. 

There are people who have not received Christ as their Saviour attending church; they are unsaved members. 

• Some have not made a true commitment to be a follower of Christ – they are lukewarm (Revelation 3:15-16).
  
• Some have not grasped the message of the Gospel though faithfully present at every service (Hebrews 4:2).
  
• Others are deluded in their belief that going to church holds the same meaning as being a Christian (Matthew 7:21-23). 

Oftentimes aspects of church are confused with salvation. 

Making a public statement of cognitive belief in Christ is not a means of salvation. 

Making a public symbolic statement of immersion is not a means of salvation. 

Conducting ministry and evangelism is not a means of salvation.

Know that “God our Saviour, wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:3,4)

Salvation is not about one’s works in the church. It’s not about organizing tea parties, playing the drums or being in the choir. Salvation is about sincere repentance of one’s sins, placing faith in Christ and His finished work at Calvary, acknowledging and confessing Him to be Lord and believing in one’s heart that God raised Him from death.

As it is written, “…if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart a person believes and so is justified and with the mouth he confesses and confirms [his] salvation” – Romans 10:9-10

And then the journey begins...

Church Membership is not Salvation ©2013 Shelley Johnson 12-Mar-13

Soul Food

Have you ever eaten Soul Food? The American South is famous for its Soul Food; food so rich in flavour, that it makes every taste bud in your mouth rejoice and ignites your other senses. Its aroma draws you to it and just to look at it makes you crave it.

Soul Food is satisfying and even after you’ve had your fill you still want just a little bit more. Although you may never have eaten American Soul Food, there must be some type of food that you can’t get enough of.

So now that all your senses have been stimulated, imagine God’s Word as Soul Food that is much better. 

The Soul Food effect of God’s Word far exceeds the effect physical Soul Food has on you. God’s Word is spiritual Soul Food! And, once you start to consume it, your appetite for it becomes so intense, your soul longs to have more and more of it. 

God’s Word doesn’t just satisfy, it completely satisfies and devouring it fills you with joy and delight that is felt deep inside you. 

“When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight…” 

[Jeremiah 15:16]

Just as your body needs physical food to live, the Word of God provides the spiritual food your soul needs to live in Christ Jesus.

“Jesus answered, ‘It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 

[Matthew 4:4]

Like Job you must treasure God’s Word more than physical food and partake of it on a daily basis (Job 23:12). 

Peter tells us to crave it (1 Peter 2:2). 

So, open your mouth like Ezekiel and feed on the “as sweet as honey” Word of God, filling your stomach with it (Ezekiel 2:8, 3:3).

Beloved, God’s Word is a veritable buffet. He has given you so much to feast on in His amazing Word. A menu that is full of every and anything you could ever think or imagine to nourish your soul…God has left nothing out of His sumptuous Soul Food banquet, so take and eat. 

Soul Food ©2013 Shelley Johnson 11-Sep-13

God Loves You

at the University of the West Indies Campus St. Augustine

"God's love for you is like a tree that can never be removed, it burns eternal in your heart there's nothing to compare it to, this love God feels for you..."

You can never be reminded enough of God’s love for you. 1 John 4:10 tells us, 

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us…”

God loves you and the way God loves you is intimated in the words of 1 Corinthians chapter 13. This beautiful chapter of love is a precious gift to you from the God of love. 

Romans 5:8 lets you know that God loves you in spite of your sins, for as it is written,

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 

[Romans 5:8]

Yes, God’s great love for you was wonderfully manifested when He sent His only begotten Son to save you (John 3:16). God poured out His love then, and is still pouring out His love on you now.

So, today, you may rest assured that nothing, nothing can separate you from the love of God that is in Christ [see Romans 8:38-39].

God Loves You ©2013 Shelley Johnson 6-Sep-13

Declarations of Faith from Scripture

Sometimes we don't know how or what to pray; one way is to make declarations from Scripture. 

The Word of God has creative power. At Creation God spoke everything into being. He calls those things that are not as though they already are and we can do the same! 

God promises that His Word does not return to Him without effect but accomplishes and achieves the purpose for which it was sent, also, God watches over His Word to perform it in our lives...that's to say that when we speak God's own Word, He is obligated to act on that Word.

It is written, “I believed, and so I have spoken.” With that same spirit of faith we also believe. And we also speak. (2 Corinthians 4:13)

So speak…declare God's Words of faith over your life in every situation knowing that you can never exhaust the Word of God. 

Pray that God will sanctify you by His Word as you speak from faith in faith and declare His Word into the atmosphere. 

Begin to speak now and say...

No Word from God is impossible of fulfillment! Let Your Word be fulfilled now!

God’s plan for my life is far greater than what I am currently living. God Himself has redeemed me, He calls me by name – I belong to God. God knows my name! 

God is with me in times of trial, nothing shall sweep over me; I shall not be burned or set ablaze because the Lord is my God, and my faith is in Him.

I choose faith over fear! I have faith and I do not doubt. My faith does not fail. I have faith in the Name of Jesus and by this faith I am made strong in every area of my life. I walk in the footsteps of faith. I am not weakened in my faith. God strengthens me in my faith and I give God the glory. 

The Word of faith that I proclaim is near me; it is in my mouth and in my heart. I am saved because I believed in faith. I am established through faith because I do believe. Faith is manifested in me by the Spirit of God. 

I stand firm in the Lord, so that nothing is lacking in my faith…”Yes” and “Amen” in Christ Jesus!

Declarations of Faith from Scripture ©2013 Shelley Johnson 1-Oct-13