“Perilous Times!”

The times we are in today are perilous. We are living out scripture right before our very eyes. The Bible says that in the last days we will have troubles. Friends, if we are not in the last days, I dread to see how bad it is going to get.

America is teetering on internal destruction. The murderous acts of those police officers have angered Americans across the nation. Anger is a justified emotion. Those officers were wrong and need to be held accountable for their actions. We as Americans need to speak up and speak out against these actions. We need to channel that anger and peacefully demonstrate our disapproval of these actions.

The Bible speaks on anger and how to handle it. In Ephesians 4:26, Paul states to be angry and sin not, let not the sun go down on your wrath.

We need to voice our opinions and our dislike for the treatment of our fellow Americans. But we do not need it to allow us to find ourselves living in hate and anger. God creates all of us in His image, we are fearfully and wonderfully made. If God loves every one of us, then why can’t we?

May God Bless You,
Pastor Shane Johnson

“He Will Make a Way!”

Being a parent of a teenager and a 10-year-old, I have heard my fair share of “buts”. “But so and so does it”, “but why not” and so on and so on. I have heard so many buts that I kinda cringe when I hear them.

Sometimes the “buts” are not always so bad. Reading scripture, I have come across several “buts” that have changed my perspective on things many times. One of my favorite passages in all of scripture is Philippians 4:19, which reads “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus.”

Wow! What an encouraging word! No matter what this life throws at you, no matter how difficult things may seem, no matter how hard it gets to see the light at the end of the tunnel, for the believer we have hope. We have a promise from the God of Heaven and Earth. From the One that is incapable of telling a lie. He says that He will supply all our needs according to His riches in Glory. Coming from the One who used precious materials to build heaven. Streets of gold, walls of jasper, gates of pearl. The things we consider precious, He used as common building materials ! Wow !

Just remember, that when things seem hopeless and you feel helpless, that my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in Glory.

Friends, God loves you! He cares and provides for His children. Trust in Him always, not only when times are tough, but always . He will make a way!

May God Bless You!
Pastor Shane Johnson

“Love One Another!”

As the world slowly returns back to a sense of normalcy there will be many out there that have been conditioned to be afraid. During this “pandemic”, I have noticed things have changed. Fear is dictating the actions of many. It seems that we have been taught in just a short time period to fear closeness with others.

I firmly believe that Gods intent for His people is for us to love one another.

Matthew 22:36-40: “Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

So, the question arises, how do we love our neighbor when we are afraid to get next to them?

We must first understand one of the greatest mysteries of all time; What is love. In the scriptures the word love is used 3 different ways.

1.Eros-a sexual type of love
2. Phileo- a brotherly type of love
3. Agape - an unconditional type of love

In this passage it is used as agape, an unconditional type of love . That was His commandment to the disciples and to us. So how can we love unconditionally when we find ourselves afraid to get close to others? We must learn to love like Jesus, and we must learn to live a life full of faith. Trust in Jesus and model your behavior after His.

In the days that lie ahead of us we must demonstrate the characteristics and traits of showing unconditional love for all mankind.

May God Bless You!
Pastor Shane Johnson

“Fear Not!”

Wow! With all that is going on in the world today it is easy to become distracted by the fear, that quite honestly is being forced on us. For the believer, fear is an oxymoron. As a believer we should not possess the trait of fear.

II Timothy 1:7 says, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

The evil one is slowly edging his way into a position of power over this world. It is time for the church to wake up and stand up in defense over the fear inducing tactics being used to control us. As Paul wrote in his letter to a young pastor named Timothy some encouraging yet strong words. God has not given us the spirit of fear, in fact He gave us just the opposite. He has gifted us with the Holy Spirit. Just before His crucifixion, Jesus met with the disciples and was giving them some words of warning and security.

In John 16:33, Jesus says, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

We as believers are already victorious over everything this old world can throw at us. Jesus secured that victory for all who will believe when He died on that cruel cross and was resurrected on that third glorious morning. Praise God, the victory is ours!

I have noticed in the past few weeks during these times of tribulation that love has been lost. This "pandemic" is causing people to be afraid of people. If we are honest with ourselves most of us are looking at people and wondering, is this person infected . This action or thought process does not exhibit the spirit of love. Jesus Himself approached 10 lepers and healed their disease-ridden bodies. This was a no-no back then as leprosy was highly contagious and not to mention it went against the law. Jesus had compassion on those 10 lepers and demonstrated His love toward them as He approached and healed them.

Friends let us not give into the spirit of fear that is dominating the word today. In fact, let us be bold in our faith and walk in the footsteps of Jesus.

May God Bless You!
Pastor Shane Johnson

“Fear Not!”

I have argued with myself over and over again and I have even delayed writing this devotional to the last minute. The times that we are in now seem to be extremely difficult for many. The fear of the unknown, the uncertainty of what will happen next. I am not going to pretend like I am not nervous about our current situation, I am nervous. I am not nervous because of the virus I am nervous about the way things will unfold. Please don't get me wrong, this virus is a terrible thing and is spreading at a rapid rate. We need to be cautious, but that does not mean we need to be faithless.

The Bible says in I Timothy 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” Paul is writing this letter to instruct and encourage Timothy, a young pastor that was saved under Paul's ministry. Timothy was sent out to spread the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, the same commissioning that all born again believers have been issued. Timothy had run into some opposition in his ministry and needed some encouragement. Paul felt a special responsibility to take young Timothy under his wing and care for, encourage and instruct him. We find ourselves in a similar situation today. We are facing some opposition to our mission of living out our faith. We have been instructed to be afraid. We have been instructed to fear. Friends the God that I serve is the same God that parted the Red Sea for Moses, fed the Israelites for 40 years, shut the lions mouth for Daniel, cooled the fire for those three Hebrew boys, gave David the courage to face the giant, turned water into wine, fed the multitude with 5 loaves and two fish, healed numerous people, raised the dead, died on an old rugged cross, resurrected the third day and is now in Heaven preparing a place for us. This same God told His disciples that He was going to leave them with something that would provide everything they needed. What He left them and all who believe is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit resides in all believers and He is there to guide us, to care for us and to comfort us.

God has told us 365 times throughout scripture to fear not, do not be afraid. Fear is the devil’s playground and he is having the time of his life right now. Please don't draw your comfort from a cabinet full of food, gallons of hand sanitizer, or hundreds of rolls of toilet paper. Draw comfort in knowing that God loves you and has told us in Hebrews 13:5 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE, NOR FORSAKE THEE.”

May God Bless You!
Pastor Shane Johnson

“Ripples!”

So, who out there reading this has an easy life? I mean every day is smooth sailing for you, not a ripple in the sea of life.

If there is one out there, please respond to this and let’s meet up and maybe you can help me. If my calculations are correct then no one out there has it easy, ripple free.

The common assumption out there is that being a Christian automatically makes life easier, that our troubles will be over. This is not quite the case. Satan will use this assumption as a way to make you question God, your salvation, your security in Jesus' finished work.

So, the question arises, or at least it does in my mind, why am I going through these things? Why is God allowing these things to happen in my life?

Friends let me use the Word of God to encourage you. In James Chapter 1, James is writing to fellow believers. In verses 2 and 3 he states, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this that the trying of your faith worketh patience".

James is basically telling us that we should be happy, excited even, when we go through these tough times in our lives. It is evidence of God doing a work in you. Proving that when He said, “…I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Heb. 13:5), that He in fact is still with us.

At salvation God began a work in you. A work known as sanctification, a process that begins at salvation and ends at glorification. It is a process that is impossible for man to do on his own and a process that is needed. God uses these trials and tribulations, (times of troubles and testing), to mold and shape us into His image.

So, if you are one of the brethren, and find yourself going through trial after trial, test upon test, Stop and Praise God for His Mighty Hand is upon you and your life! Rejoice!!!

May God Bless You!
Pastor Shane Johnson

 LOVE

As we at ChurchDirect.Net are finishing up our January “Confess with Your Mouth” month, we are moving into the month of love. February will be our “Love one Another” month, and the month of Valentine’s Day. Let us read what God has told us about love in I Corinthians 13:4-8, “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away."

The Greek word used for love, in this verse is agapē. When translated they use the word charity. Throughout the Bible there are a few different words used to describe love, some are for friendship and some are of a romantic nature, but agapē is a special one. It is an unconditional love, or a Godly love. Try reading the verse above again, but this time replace charity with unconditional love or Godly love.

Another example of this type of love is found in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Again, the word used for love in this passage is agapē. According, to I John 4:7 (again using agapē) “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.”

As we embark on this month of love, remember that God tells us what love is. That it suffers long, and is kind, and does not envy. That it is selfless and never fails. He shows an example of this love, by sending His only Son to die on a cross to save us. And He tells us, with this same love, to love one another.

“Because God Has Said So”

What comes to mind when you think of the word loser? Someone who has come up short in an athletic contest. Someone who has been rejected by a love interest. Perhaps simply someone who misplaced an object such as their keys. In the common vernacular a loser has come to be known as a person who has made a grave error in judgment or action. Something so significant that it has caused physical or mental pain and suffering to themselves or others.

Who then would you say was the biggest loser in the Bible? Judas? Pharaoh? Esau? For many years I would have said Lot. Consider where we last see Lot in the Bible. Living in a cave with his daughters who have devised a plot to preserve his family line but in a truly wicked way. He has lost his wife, his home, his fortune, his testimony before his family. Consider the woe his descendants had caused to Israel over the course of its history. What a loser!

Read 2nd Peter 2: 4 – 9 very carefully especially verse 7. Righteous Lot!!! How can this be?

Years ago, I read what is said to be the testimony of Billy Sunday the great evangelist. He tells of a common soldier of the Grand Armee of Napoleon Bonaparte who stepped from the ranks and stopped the emperor’s horse after it had bolted. To show his gratitude for this man’s courage Napoleon said, “Thank you captain.”

“Captain of what sir”?, the soldier replied.

“Captain of my Life Guards sir.”, the emperor answered.

The soldier saw a group of officers of that unit and walked to join them. The men looking at what they assumed was a common soldier asked him why he presumed to be among them. The soldier answered, “I am one of you a captain.”

One of the officers scoffed and said, “Who made you an officer much less one of us?”

The soldier pointed toward Napoleon and said, “He did .”

Sunday concluded by saying I am saved because God has said so!

Why was Lot righteous? Because God declared him so.

Are you a child of God? Have you placed your faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior? Oh yes, we live in a world today that is very much like the one in which Lot resided. We may not feel close to God because of our thought life, or our words or actions. Has this world crushed your spirit? Perhaps so but that does not change your standing with the God of the universe.

Dan Geer

"Lord What Will You Have Me Do?"

The lost are called by God to be saved. I Corinthians 15:11 “Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.” People are being saved because of the preaching and sharing of the gospel of Christ. I am saved (first because God called me, and I accepted) because a group of saved people took their work outside of their church and went on the road to other churches and venues and shared the gospel of Christ.

The saved are called by God to do His work – share the gospel. If I am saved people should know it! I should be sharing Him. I should be a good witness! Do we really believe? Is that why we don’t witness? Do I do everything in my power to do what God has called me to do like David did? (I Samuel 17) Is God my #1 priority? We are called to go out and tell others about Jesus. Who is the last person you told about Jesus? Tell the world God loves them, Jesus saved me, now He can save them! When is the last time you shared your testimony outside of your church walls? God calls His people to tell what they have seen and know to be true. Have you ever asked, “Lord what will you have me to do?” Even better, have you done it? How much do your friends think you love God?

Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only reason we are alive today. Pastor Kaleb says keep the main thing the main thing and that is the main thing! Testify to the whole world. The world is my parish! Pastor Shane says God never intended for a bunch of saved people to gather in a place and talk. Church is to go to get fed then go out and feed others! What am I doing for Him? What am I doing to accomplish His Kingdom? What do I take outside of the walls of my church? I Corinthians 15:11 “Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.” People are being saved because of the preaching and sharing of the gospel of Christ. Find someone to share Jesus with today, share your salvation story with a stranger today, share what God has done in your life with someone. Don’t keep it to yourself! When we say no to God, it costs those around us too.

Sheri Bevins

 “The Perfect Gift”

Good evening everyone. I am sorry about the tardiness of this devotional. I was at a family gathering to celebrate Christmas with all our family that lives out of town. It was a wonderful time, getting to see everyone and catch up with each other. We focused on each other and the love that we share between us.

Seeing how the Christmas season is upon us, I thought I would take just a few moments of your time and share a little of my heart with you.

We as a culture, society, whatever you want to call us have truly taken away from the true meaning of Christmas. We have over commercialized it, from the million hallmark movies to the billions of dollars that will be spent in purchasing Christmas gifts. Now, before you tune me out or scroll down to the next Facebook post, please give me an opportunity to explain.

I am not saying that there is anything wrong with the Christmas traditions that we take part in. I believe our biggest problem comes from a focal standpoint. Many of us become consumed with making everything perfect....

-perfect tree
-perfect decorations
-perfect dinner
-perfect outfits
-perfect gifts

We struggle and often times put ourselves in debt trying to obtain that perfection.
This was not God's intent for us when He sent His only Son to that manger in Bethlehem.
It was not His intent when He chose Mary to deliver the Savior of the world.

It was not His intent when He gifted us with the only way to salvation.

The prophet Isaiah gives us the reason for the birth of Christ and the reason for our celebration of this most wonderful time of year.

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

God sent us His only son as a gift, a gift of salvation, a gift of peace, a gift of comfort, a gift of freedom, a gift of grace, a gift of mercy, a gift of love.

Let us not get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season and fail to remember and fail to acknowledge the true meaning of Christmas. Let us take a moment to thank God for His unspeakable gift.

Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Pastor Shane Johnson