Tag: Faith Love Trust Obedience

Witnessing that Jesus is Coming

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matthew 28:18-20

The Era of the Voices

The Christians of former years, Dr. Martin Luther King, Billy Graham, Robert W. Shambach, E. E. Cleveland, Charles E. Bradford, and Esther E. Johnson used their voices to preach God’s plan of Salvation for humanity. Certainly, there were many other obedient disciples, not limited to these men and woman of God, just identifying the persons who had an impact on my life. And in those days, Christian believers never had a worry, anxiety, or fear. No, we knew that it was our duty to God to have die-hard faith and complete, unwavering trust in God. And we believed and prepared every day for the Second Coming of Jesus. Back in the day, our voices were lifted with joy. Our priorities were to walk from door to door in the communities passing out tracts, inviting people to church, and witnessing to anyone, to everyone who would listen.

The Century of Silence

Now that we live in the last days and have the convenience of global social media platforms, we are silenced. Our voices shout in excitement for football games, and we use our high-tech skills to create visuals that defy our perception of reality. We stash our money away as we check our financial portfolios, contently sitting in our magnificent homes, smiling and telling ourselves, “Yes, you have done well for yourself.”

As the seconds become minutes that transition into days, we have reached the 21st century–the Last Days. Instead of the fervency that would be expected due to fulfillment of biblical prophecy, we have become the Church of Laodicea [Revelation 3]. Giving only to God what we think He deserves. Once or twice a week, we attend church, give tithe and offerings, or donate to non-profits like OXFAM, and we applaud ourselves because we feel, “at least I did my part in serving God.”

The Culprit Responsible for Silenced Voices

We console ourselves by blaming the pandemic. After all, we are in the second year of the pandemic that has ruined many of our plans. How can we safely witness to others? Yes, the Coronavirus and its variants are still attacking and consuming human life. But let us face the truth, we are still conducting our activities of daily living because life must move forward. Put on your mask, gloves, grab a handful of tracts, purchase low-cost Bibles, and do a walk-through up and down the supermarket aisles, or choose a Wal-Mart, or any store parking lot. We will never know who is despondent and planning to end their hopelessness. Doing our part by giving them a tract or Bible would change the course of their lives.

It is not just the duty of the dedicated Pastors who are preaching the biblical truth [with few members] to “feed the sheep.” The mega churches have their agenda which rarely matches that of God’s divine purpose. Accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior includes an obligation. “The Great Commission,” is a requirement that all disciples of Jesus Christ must fulfill. Using our social media is an excellent method to spread the Good News that a Savior died: His name is Jesus, and He will give you a peaceful life. He has plans of immortality in a New Heaven and New Earth. Read John 14:1-3 and Revelation chapters 21-22. Yes, the scoffers will readily post their comments attempting to sabotage and make you feel defeated. Use the tool, Delete and Block. And keep going!

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

Turn up the Volume! Lift up your voice and proclaim the precious gift of Salvation. Tell them the Son of God, Jesus Christ who wore a crown of thorns is coming back this time with a crown of majesty and glory as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Let us do our part and the Holy Spirit will complete the work in every person that accepts the Jesus as their personal Savior.

Prayer: God, we have lost our desire to serve you as a dedicated disciple. We ask for forgiveness for giving so little of ourselves. Please reveal to us the plan and purpose that you have for our lives so we may witness to others. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen. © 2021 Sonya Johnson, Faithful Fishers Ministry

Do Everything in Love

Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong. Do everything in love. 1 Corinthians 16:13‭-‬14 CSB

Can you imagine if every spoken word and action that a Christian believer would say or do would be from the fruit of LOVE? God is Love! Jesus’ life was completely perfect because He possessed a loving and compassionate heart. Self-evaluate, where do you stand on the loving hearts platform? Do you have a heart bubbling over with agape love for God and others? Our character matters greatly to God. Galatians 5:22-23

Prayer: God, please cleanse us from all unrighteousness and teach us how to love as you love. In Jesus’ name. Amen. © 2021 Sonya Johnson, Faithful Fishers Ministry

Looking for Opportunities?

In reading the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, we are given a glimpse of Jesus through the eyes of four men. Jesus, our role model provided spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical healing along with feeding multitudes throughout His short life of 33 years. His disciple John wrote: “And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which, if every one of them were written down, I suppose not even the world itself could contain the books that would be written.” John 21:25 CSB

Certainly, with the overabundance of financial resources that many present-day disciples possess, we should reflect Jesus’ compassionate care for others. Our responsibility to help those in need far exceeds random acts of kindness or giving to the Benevolent fund at church. Remember, only what we do for Christ will count in the end. Pray and ask God how you can help others. Love and Serve God, Love and Serve Others, and Love Yourself.

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me; I was in prison and you visited me. Matthew 25:35‭-‬36 CSB

Prayer: God, we ask you to reveal your plan for our lives and how we can help those in need. In Jesus’ Worthy name, we pray. Amen. © 2021 Sonya Johnson, Faithful Fishers Ministry

The Standards Are Very Different

Through human eyes, we measure others by their great accomplishments. But God does not. It is the one who is repentant, humble, meek, and obedient to the will of God that will receive the greatest reward of eternal life. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the father in spirit and truth; for the father is seeking such to worship Him. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. John 4:23-24

Oh, how different are the standards by which God and men measure character. God sees many temptations resisted of which the world and even near friends never know—temptations in the home, in the heart. He sees the soul’s humility in view of its own weakness; the sincere repentance over even a thought that is evil. He sees the wholehearted devotion to His service. He has noted the hours of hard battle with self—battle that won the victory. All this God and angels know. A book of remembrance is written before Him for them that fear the Lord and that think upon His name. –Christ Object Lessons

Prayer: God, please help us not to focus on our earthly accomplishments, but to focus on serving you in humility and obedience. We ask this prayer in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Third Person of the Trinity

The Trinity: God, the Father, Jesus, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is our faith that instinctively causes us to believe the spiritual things that we will never fully understand.

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the father will send in my name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. John 14:26

The (Im) Possible

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

We can live peaceful lives free of chaos and confusion. Think about never experiencing another disappointment or facing a negative consequence due to a wrong decision. Are you willing to place your life in God’s hands? Surrendering means relinquishing all control, including decision-making and plans, over to God.

Although discipleship indicates following Christ, many Christians pursue their daily agendas, dreams, and goals without the blessing of Divine approval. Yes, we have free will of choice, but serving God means praying and waiting for God to reveal His plans for our life. How can a created being make the impossible become possibilities? Can human knowledge and wisdom compete with the Omniscience of their Creator?

Genuine Faith produces the desire to obey God. Obedience involves surrender and the humility to seek God’s will every day. Through prayer we can involve God in every aspect of our lives. Remember, God’s promises are always Yes and Amen. He can never fail! Our Heavenly Father reveals the direction we should take to receive Victorious Outcomes. Still, it is up to us. Trusting God with your life is faith in action. Wait on the Lord. Psalm 27:14. Go ahead, take the giant leap of faith! Let God’s Omnipotence fill your life with joy, peace, confidence, and abundant possibilities.

Prayer: God, we are ready to surrender our hearts to you. Please reveal your purpose and plans for our lives. We ask this prayer in Jesus’ name. Amen. © 2021 Sonya Johnson, Faithful Fishers Ministry

It’s All or Nothing

I can recall trying to find a nursing job in Orlando, Florida, when there was an overabundance of Registered Nurses. Finally, I found a position where I was hired on the spot. The irony of being immediately hired is that I had to have security clearance which involved fingerprints, DMV abstract, and nursing license verification. Yes, the red flags were waving from every direction. The following day I received a quick one-day orientation–policies, payday, dress code and was told that I needed to arrive at 6 am in the morning to do rounds with the Wound Care Doctor. Not a problem. The issue was that I never received a job description because the position was recently created.

My day started at 4 am, including travel time. All went well for the first week, which had me thinking that I had overreacted. Monday of the second week revealed the truth. The evening nurse who worked from 2:30 pm to 11:00 pm called out sick. I was notified that I needed to speak with the Assistant Director, who informed me that I would be working until 11 pm that night. The duties of a floor nurse were nonstop. I made it through the night. But decided that my last day would be the following week on payday.

The nurse did not return to work for three days. So, I double-shifted for three days and evenings and was told I would be happy with my check. I found out from the other employees that the facility had a very high turnover of evening nurses, and there was no guarantee the staff nurse would return. I must admit that for the first time in my career, I felt miserable. Being half-committed along with the administration’s dishonesty regarding my job description made me so stressed out that I did not make it until payday.

Our spiritual journey requires 100% commitment to God. Serving God is an All or Nothing covenant promise. We commit to a relationship with Jesus Christ that is high maintenance. Building our spiritual connection with Christ requires surrender, faith, trust, obedience, studying the Bible, praying, helping others, attending church, and allowing God to do a complete character makeover.

I have heard many people say, “It’s just too hard to serve God. The things that I cannot do or the things that I have to do for God it’s overwhelming. The dilemma of placing our desires before God is not a new concept. The Laodiceans possessed material wealth and felt their spiritual knowledge was equal to their social status. They were not interested in doing the practical duties required of the Christian believer in the early church. So, they decided not to stress themselves out. They felt that whatever they did was enough to serve God by continuing their daily routines and just showing up for church.

And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—”Revelation 3:14-17

It is difficult for those who feel secure in their attainments, and who believe themselves to be rich in spiritual knowledge, to receive the message which declares that they are deceived and in need of every spiritual grace. God leads His people on step by step. The Christian life is a constant battle and a march. There is no rest from the warfare. It is by constant, unceasing effort that we maintain the victory over the temptations of Satan. It is not enough to merely profess to believe the truth. All the soldiers of the cross of Christ virtually obligate themselves to enter the crusade against the adversary of souls, to condemn wrong and sustain righteousness. But the message of the True Witness reveals the fact that a terrible deception is upon our people, which makes it necessary to come to them with warnings, to break their spiritual slumber, and arouse them to decided action. Testimonies for the Church, volume 3. 

Serving God is not a laid-back, easy lifestyle that requires little to no human effort. We cannot attend church once a week or sing our way to heaven with uplifted hands. The motivational speeches that have replaced sermons based on scriptures have many deceived into thinking that serving God is based on an  emotional response. 

The Laodicean Church received a strong rebuke from Jesus. You have to be hot [completely committed] or cold [same status as an unbeliever] because lukewarm individuals [who have decided how they will serve God] will be spit out [no chance of receiving the reward of eternal life].

Matthew chapter 28:19-20 is the Great Commission, which is applicable to every believer–witness and make disciples. 

 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

It’s up to each of us to serve God giving our All or Nothing. 

Prayer: God, we confess that we are not giving you our best and for this sin, we ask for forgiveness. Please reveal the work that you have for us to do as we prepare for Jesus’ Coming. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen. © 2021 Sonya Johnson, Faithful Fishers Ministry