Divine Teacher

As a believer in Jesus Christ, you have been given the gift of a Divine Teacher, and that Divine Teacher is the Holy Spirit. This is just one of the Holy Spirit’s many roles, and as Teacher, He is duty bound to teach you all things. However it is up to you to open yourself to receive His teaching and commit to learning all that God has in store for you to learn. 

The promise that the Holy Spirit will teach us all things was first made to the Apostles, then the Apostles applied it to all believers when it was said,

“Christ has poured out His Spirit on you. As long as His Spirit remains in you, you do not need anyone to teach you. For His Spirit teaches you about everything, and what He teaches is true, not false. Obey the Spirit's teaching, then, and remain in union with Christ.” – 1 John 2:27 (GNT)

It is therefore, the privilege of every believer in Christ to be taught by His Spirit independent of human teachers. This does not mean that we cannot learn from others who have been taught by the Holy Spirit, but while we may learn a great deal from other Spirit-filled men and women, we should not become utterly dependent on their teaching alone. Human teachers will never give us an exact apprehension of the Truth, which can only be received from being directly taught by the Holy Spirit. 

There are also a lot of charlatans out there – false prophets spewing doctrine that does not always appear to be obviously false. If you allow the Divine Teacher to teach you, then you will find yourself in a better position to know the difference between the doctrine of God and that of man.

The Word is the place to which the Holy Spirit, who is the Author of the Word, leads His pupils and the instrument through which He instructs them. He opens your mind to understand the Scriptures (see Luke 24:45). The Holy Spirit is the only one who will “lead you into all the Truth”; it is the Holy Spirit “who reveals the truth about God” (see John 16:13), speaking not on His own authority but speaking everything that He hears from God. He reveals God’s doctrine in all its glory.

The Divine Teacher is the only Person that can properly educate you about the things of God. No-one else is capable of giving you the most comprehensive understanding of Truth. It is by Spirit’s divine revelation that you will know the Truth that makes you free to be who you are in Christ – unshackled and unburdened by the things of this world. It is through the Divine Teacher that God imparts His secret wisdom to you, “even the hidden depths of God’s purposes” (1 Corinthians 2:10).

Apostle Paul warns that when you are taught of God by the Spirit of God, your perspective will change, your speech will change – you will no longer speak words interpreted and shaped by human wisdom but words crafted and taught by Spirit. You will have insight and understanding of spiritual truths that seem to some as utter nonsense. Always quick to judge according to their own contrived sense of knowledge, these are the persons who will not hesitate to label you crazy, foolish, deceived and any myriad of unflattering adjectives but their actions only prove that they neither have open communion with the Holy Spirit nor understanding of spiritual realities (see 1 Corinthians 2:14).

Beloved, if you sincerely want to know the Truth, you must turn to the Divine Teacher to open your eyes that you may see the wonderful deep things that God has prepared for those who love Him. You must be willing to empty yourself of your own wisdom, and yield completely to the Holy Spirit’s leading. 

Amen† 

Divine Teacher

Shelley Johnson July 5, 2017

Watchmen

“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith.” – 1 Peter 5:8 (NLT)

I read an article recently that said that turkeys have a vocabulary of warning calls which they employ depending on the predator. One is always on watch to warn the flock as soon as danger threatens.

We are also to be on watch like the turkeys, so that we may warn our brothers and sisters of impending danger from predators. We are called to be watchmen, all of us, not to look out for number one only but to have such compassion that will allow us to keep watch over one another because the devil, our great enemy, is on the prowl. Please don’t believe, not even for a moment that he is seeking one person at a time, no way, if he could devour the entire flock in one fell swoop then he will. 

Understand too that our enemy prowling, means that he’s always on the ready to pounce at the slightest sign of weakness or inattentiveness. As he spots it, he will move in for the kill, so in order for us to not fall prey to him, we must be vigilant, standing “firm against him” and remaining steadfast in our faith. The devil is going all out to entrap you, he’s not holding back; he is watching, he is staying alert and he is keeping a close eye on you, just waiting for you to lose your footing and waver in your faith. We can be so easily distracted, and at times gullible and the devil uses these inherent traits of ours to his advantage. 

Throughout the Bible, from the Old Testament to the New, we are constantly being warned to “Stay alert!”, “Stay awake!”, “keep watch over your soul”. The Message Bible translation of 1 Thessalonians 5:6 tells us to “not sleepwalk through life like those others. Let’s keep our eyes open and be smart.” And Jesus explained to His disciples, in Mark 14:38 that “the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” How many times has your body betrayed your willing spirit? You’re eager to stay awake but your eyelids feel weighted and it’s a struggle to keep them open. It happens but when you are weak, in every manner, remember that God’s strength is made perfect in weakness. 

Yes, you must find your strength for all things in God, including the strength to remain spiritually awake. Psalm 127:1 says that the watchman stays awake in vain unless the Lord is watching over the city. If God is not watching over you then what’s the point? You simply cannot do this watching, staying awake and being alert in your own strength. God is willing to keep watch over you but you have to pay attention to His Spirit’s urging, recognize the warning signs that He’s pointing out, notice the red flags when they’re hoisted and be quick to react accordingly. 

Spiritual darkness has a tendency to lull us to sleep and, like the disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane, we can fall asleep at the wrong time. That’s why, when you feel yourself drifting away you must begin to pray. That night in the Garden, when Jesus said, “be in prayer, so you don’t enter the danger zone without even knowing it.” (Mark 14:38 MSG), is a message that rings true for all of us today. 

Amen†

Watchmen

Shelley Johnson June 26, 2017

Bogged Down

I don’t know about you but I find myself getting so bogged down with doing this and that, that I fail to do what I ought to be doing. For instance, this blog. I should post something every single day – it’s a commitment that I should uphold, to God and to you. 

Just like Martha in Luke 10:38-42, we sometimes pay so much attention to the peripheral issues that we lose sight of what’s really important. Can you relate?

My last blog post was June twenty third, nine days ago. What was I really doing from then until now? I look around and I can see no evidence of my busyness. In Ecclesiastes, Solomon lets us know that all our striving is like chasing after the wind but what God has appointed us to do is worthwhile, substantial and will make a difference, so whether this blog is read by thousands or by only one person, I know that because God has led me to do it, it is accomplishing His purpose therefore I need to be consistent and not allow myself to be pulled away. 

The truth is, when I sit down to meditate, research, and write, what is actually happening is that I am spending time in God’s presence and then, I become like Martha’s sister Mary, who sat at Jesus’ feet, hanging on to Jesus’ every word – learning valuable lessons and gaining spiritual insight as I read and listen. 

Beloved do not believe that you have to be in church or theological college or in a Bible study group to sit at Jesus’ feet and be in His presence. Spending time with God can take place right where you are. My bedroom is where I really get into deep intimate fellowship with God – conversing, studying His Word and being taught by Spirit. Too many times we favour busyness over intimacy. Forgetting that there’s a time for everything, we get so involved in certain things that the one thing that matters is neglected. Jesus said to Martha, 

“Oh Martha, Martha, you are so anxious and concerned about a million details, but really, only one thing matters. Mary has chosen that one thing, and I won’t take it away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42 VOICE)

Unlike her sister, Mary used her time wisely. She seized the opportunity to take full advantage of Jesus’ visit. We too must make the choice not to misuse our time. What’s the use of getting so bogged down with stuff that we miss out on that one thing that won’t be taken away from us, spending vital time with God? 

Let us all pray for wisdom concerning all things, especially about the time we spend with God.

Amen†

Bogged Down

Shelley Johnson July 3, 2017

Remember the Poor

It’s so interesting how God teaches us lessons. For instance, if God wants to teach you to be patient, you’re going to find yourself in every kind of situation that will test your patience. And from my experience it has been no different with other virtues.

In chapter nine of his second letter to the Corinthians, Apostle Paul lets us know that God loves a cheerful giver, and it was only after I’d got that ingrained into my psyche that I was taught that God also loves a gracious receiver. Subsequently I was placed in various positions to test how well I’d receive from others. You see, I’ve come to understand that if you can’t graciously receive from your fellowman, it will be hard for you to receive from God. Very often God will use a person to give you what He has laid up in store for you, and if you do not know how to properly receive, that is, without the self-consciousness, shame, embarrassment or feelings of being a charity case, then what’s for you may prove slow in coming.

Recently, and I mean recently, since I am in the midst of it right now, I am being put to the test in regard to graciously receiving from others – family, friends, and strangers alike. But that’s not all, together with the receiving I’m being taught the art of asking for help as well, not just any help but financial help and not just one or two people but a multitude, and not privately and quietly but publicly and loudly…social media publicly-loudly. When God wants a girl to learn a lesson, He sure has His way of taking her beyond her comfort zone. 

Before God parted the Red Sea, the Israelites had to wade into that water to their nostrils. Sometimes that is the only way to be taught. By walking into the deep water we’re forced to overcome our natural fear and flee inclinations. I haven’t had either the luxury of walking into the deep water or the time to feel the shame associated with having to ask, instead pressing circumstances have caused me to dive right in. So asked I did, and God showed me the hearts of people. The outpouring of genuine concern for another’s well-being and willingness to give love, support, encouragement, time, talent, and money has been incredible.

Paul, in Galatians 2:10, was asked to remember the poor, and he didn’t baulk at the request since it was something that he was eager to do. Going through this period of learning, I have seen, and continue to see every day, persons eager to remember the poor. To keep the poor in mind is an act of Christian charity – an example of God’s love. God knows what a person needs most, so pray and allow God to lead you.

You don’t always require money to help and God can show you other ways to provide for the poor and needy. He can show you who are the right people to bring together to ensure that persons’ needs are met. Just because you don’t have the financial means does not mean you can’t still offer a helping hand. However, if you can assist others financially then do not be tight-fisted. Like Paul, every one of us must be eager to serve God and each other in this way.

As it is written,

“You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.” 

(2 Corinthians 9:11-12 ESV)

Amen†

Remember the Poor

Shelley Johnson June 22, 2017

Legalism is Lethal

Legalism is a topic that is expansive and to properly deal with it exceeds the capacity of this one Blog Post. My aim, as I often mention, is to whet your curiosity to dig deeper for yourself. I give you a starting point and I trust that your interest would be aroused enough for you to desire more, much more.

First, I must let you know that you will not find the word “legalism” anywhere in the Bible. You can scour through for yourself but it is not there, however, Jesus dealt with this malaise throughout His Ministry, in particular during His encounters with the Pharisees and other law experts (see Luke 11:37-54).

Apostle Paul wrote,

So those now who live by faith are blessed along with Abraham, who lived by faith—this is no new doctrine! And that means that anyone who tries to live by his own effort, independent of God, is doomed to failure. Scripture backs this up: “Utterly cursed is every person who fails to carry out every detail written in the Book of the law.” (Galatians 3:9-10 MSG)

This more or less encapsulates what legalism is about. Simply defined, legalism is attempting to practice the law – applying Scripture – by your own understanding and interpretation and in your own strength. It’s about trying to gain favour with God and impressing your fellowman by doing certain things, all the while neglecting genuine spiritual growth and transformation. Legalism is performance based and ignores the establishment of a personal, intimate relationship with God. It exalts human ability and focuses on externals such as one’s good deeds, without regard to the condition of one’s heart before God.

But authentic Christianity is about the heart. The heart is what God looks at, the internal not the external: …the Lord said to Samuel, “…the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7 ESV)

God is concerned with your inner character, that’s what He considers. He is not at all impressed by your so called good works or deeds. God examines your heart and therefore knows your true motives and intentions (1 Chronicles 28:9; Jeremiah 12:3). The Pharisees took pride in how they were seen by others. They were well educated and had great knowledge of the Law but their hearts were corrupted. Jesus compared them to “whitewashed tombs”, outwardly beautiful yet full of rot and decay on the inside.

The Pharisees’ major problem was pride, which is the core of legalism. And still today, there are many who possess legalistic tendencies. You see, falling into legalism is easier than you or I might imagine, and the troubling part is, we do not realize when we have stumbled into that trap of a religious and legal practice of God’s Word. 

When you do not properly divide and apply the Word of God through the leading of the Holy Spirit but instead live it out according to your own misinterpretation, that’s the moment you enter into that trap of legalism. Paul, a former Pharisee, warns us of this in Romans 8:3-7 and 12-14 and, in Luke 11:42-52, Jesus, in dealing with the Pharisees and other religious experts cried out all the woes that would befall those who indulged in religious and legalistic practices. Jesus confronted legalism as sin. Therefore, legalism is lethal since the wages of sin is death. 

Too often we get caught up in believing that it’s what we do that determines whether or not we are good Christians. So we start doing this and that, making sure to adhere to all the man made rules like dress codes while overlooking, tolerating and engaging in gossip, greed, sowing discord, lust, malice, lying, scheming, pride…all the things that God hates and detests. 

Pride is like a secret trapdoor that can subtly lead us into all sorts of sinful activity and it is the very root of legalism. Legalism focuses on man’s ability, not God’s; it is mired in self-exaltation and self-righteousness. Legalism is self-seeking and does not even consider to seek God and His Kingdom first and foremost. Legalism abuses and subverts the laws of God, shifting the focus from the heart to the outward appearance, to yourself and away from God and godliness.

Thank God there is an escape from this lethal trap. God is so merciful, He always provides us with a way out and a way up when we fall. He already put a rescue plan in place for us, but we have to cooperate. We simply have to purposefully shift our focus back to God and away from self. Paul tells us how in Romans 8,

“God did something the law could never do. You see, human flesh took its toll on God’s law. In and of itself, the law is not weak; but the flesh weakens it. So to condemn the sin that was ruling in the flesh, God sent His own Son, bearing the likeness of sinful flesh, as a sin offering. Now we are able to live up to the justice demanded by the law. But that ability has not come from living by our fallen human nature; it has come because we walk according to the movement of the Spirit in our lives.

If you live your life animated by the flesh—namely, your fallen, corrupt nature—then your mind is focused on the matters of the flesh. But if you live your life animated by the Spirit—namely, God’s indwelling presence—then your focus is on the work of the Spirit. A mind focused on the flesh is doomed to death, but a mind focused on the Spirit will find full life and complete peace. You see, a mind focused on the flesh is declaring war against God; it defies the authority of God’s law and is incapable of following His path.” (verses 3-7 Voice)

Amen†

Legalism is Lethal

Shelley Johnson June 21, 2017

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 is 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?” (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 the soldiers from arresting Jesus (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.

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. Peter was the first disciple to see Jesus alive after the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:5) and was the first to preach the Gospel (see 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† 

If Jesus had not Risen from the Dead

Shelley Johnson June 19, 2017

Rejected but not Dejected

My friends, as you read today’s post you may realize that the subject matter is similar to the post before; clearly this subject is of grave importance to God and to all of us on this spiritual journey. Rejection is something that each one of us will inevitably have to deal with in one form or another. Jesus Himself encountered the most brutal manifestation of rejection and He was not shy in warning His disciples of it. Rejection comes with the spiritual walk package but we’re not to suffer dejection because of it, for Apostle Paul assures us that if God is on your side, there is no need for you to be afraid of anyone who comes against you (see Romans 8:29-31).

With this is mind, I want to encourage you to take heart when people, especially those close to you, do not see you as a person who has come to know God. Remember that they knew you from before and have already formed an impression of you so it’s difficult for them to even fathom that you can somehow change. Furthermore, if they do not understand that a person can be changed through the hand of God at work, they’ll be hard pressed to believe and will reject you, and, your explanation to them will not be received but please do not be dejected, think on Romans 8:29-31 and simply press on. 

The Message translation of Matthew 10:14 is a fitting attitude to adopt when others reject you,

“If they don’t welcome you, quietly withdraw. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way.”

Yes, quietly withdraw and be on your way. As the saying goes, “familiarity breeds contempt” and persons who know you hardly ever recognize you as someone who has a deep relationship with God, they can neither understand nor appreciate the new re-created you. They are unable to comprehend who you’ve become but you know you’ve changed, you can literally feel it. You’ve experienced a metamorphosis, an about turn – your views have changed, your very perception has been affected by your renewed spirit and you’re eager to declare, 

“Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what He has done for my soul.” (Psalm 66:16 ESV)

Keep in mind however, that not everyone has that reverential fear of God and chances are that even though they come and hear, will not be able to grasp what you’ve experience since they’ve never had such an encounter themselves. Still, don’t be dejected by their rejection, instead continue to tell what God has done and is doing for your soul because you can feel the Life that is now inside you. You’re overwhelmed by its energy and its power – the Spirit of God working deep within, transforming you into a new creation, a vessel being properly molded to contain Him, “a vessel for honor, sanctified [set apart for a special purpose and], useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.” (2 Timothy 2:21 AMP).

My friend, you know who you are and to whom you belong so when people reject you, and they will, know that God has chosen you and you are precious to Him (1 Peter 2:4).

Amen†

Rejected but not Dejected

Shelley Johnson June 19, 2017