Connection To God

And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
John 14:13-14

"I want to be a millionaire, in Jesus' name."

I wonder how many people have or will utter those words (or something like them)? I doubt I am the first to see this verse and wonder if people think, "Jesus, I sure would like a million dollars." Though, I guess I would have to ask for more because of inflation, but I digress.

To ask for something in Jesus' name is like asking for His approval... His authority... His blessing. Notice the goal of answered prayer, "That the Father may be glorified in the Son". James tells us that we have not because we ask not and we do not receive what we ask for because we want to use it for selfish pleasures and pursuits (James 4:2-3). I want a million dollars so I can have a cushy life and not have to work again, THE FATHER IS NOT GLORIFIED IN THAT.

Maybe we can spend more time praying for our sanctification (the daily refinement of our Christlikeness) than for our pleasures. Maybe we can pray for the things that bring the Father glory. That is a prayer the Lord will answer.

Cheers

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

From the Upper Room to the Hights of Heaven -- John 14:1-4, 6

Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

Jesus said to him, “I am fthe way, the truth, and hthe life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

John 14:1-4, 6

Recently, my wife and I took a trip to the North East. It was gorgious. It was cold. It was memorable. It was also at someone else's request. They offered to make all our travel araingments (Plane, Car and Hotel) and for that, I was very appreciative. It just so happens that there was a mix-up and I had to put the car rental on my credit card. I was re-imbersed and everything worked out just fine. I am actually writing this entry on the flight back.

What happened above was a minor thing, not even an issue... but it got me thinking. Jesus has paid the fee, the fair... WE ARE FOGIVEN IN CHRIST!!! When I die there will be no balance due. There will be no computer glitch. My reservation is ready and the room is being prepped.

You know, you can have a room waiting for you too. If you don't know Christ and His forgiveness, shoot me an email at itscbj@gmail.com, I'd love to chat with you.

Be blessed my friends... be a blessing.

Cheers.

Monday, February 10, 2014

John 9 - The BLIND and the BOUND

Sorry about the abrupt ending... the device I used ran out of space on the hard drive.

John 9 - The BLIND and the BOUND from Chris Johnson on Vimeo.

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Knowing and being Known -- John 13:35

By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

John 13:35

What are you known for?

My wife is a fantastic cook. And if you ever ate anything she cooked, you certainly do not need my endorsement for seconds. But her food was not always, how can I say this nicely... as wonderfully flavorful as it is today. She was know for a few things, but 14 years ago, being a wonderful cook was not one of them.

I am afraid that so many churches (or at least the pastors of so many churches) have a great deal to say about what they are against. There seems to be a proliferation of something that is not hate... but definately NOT love for our brethren. I have friends in different denominations, and hopefully after what I just wrote, I still have friends in Independent Fundamentalist circles. I simply refuse to fight my fellow Gospel believing, Jesus worshiping brothers in Christ. Heresy is one thing. That should be nipped in the bud and the ground saturated with "nothing will ever grow here again" juice.

This is a plea, not for conformity to the world, or culture... or even the trendy idea the tolerance somehow is synonymous with ENDORSEMENT. No. Instead, this is a call to arms as we fight the enemy and hopefully, not our brethren.

Let us love, as Jesus loved.

Cheers.

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Right Under Your Nose - John 13:25-29

Then, leaning back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?”
Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” But no one at the table knew for what reason He said this to him. For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, “Buy those things we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor.
John 13:25-29

I have often looked at this passage and wondered what in the world the Disciples were thinking. Jesus JUST TOLD them that someone would betray them and HE WOULD GIVE IT TO THE TRAITOR. "Come one guys!" I almost say out loud every time I read this.

But the fact of the matter is... I am not that much different. I read in the Word the glorious promises of the Lord. Within those that same Book, there are very stern rebukes and warnings. There are, I am ashamed to report, several lessons I should have learned the hard way. But maybe you are not like the Disciples who clearly missed what Jesus was saying.|Maybe you are more like me... missing it several times over!

Praise the Lord for His grace.

Cheers.

Thursday, December 12, 2013

2 Peter 3 Outlined and Explained

2 Peter 3 Outlined and Explained from Chris Johnson on Vimeo.

Monday, December 9, 2013

Luke 4:1-14

Luke 4:1-14 from Chris Johnson on Vimeo.

Monday, December 2, 2013

Adam, where are you? (Genesis 3:7)

Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

Genesis 3:7 (ESV)

After his eyes were open and the fig leaves were sown, the Lord re-enters the scene walking in the midst of the garden in the cool of the day. The Lord's question, " Where are you Adam?" was geared at Adams spiritual condition... not his physical location. Adam was lost.

But there are two types of lost, right?

If I lost my phone, it is no longer in my possession and I will diligently seek it. If I am on an unfamiliar path, I am also lost if I don't know how to get where I'm trying to get to. Adam found himself lost in both senses of the word... thus began the Lord's missionary work. Remember, Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost.

Cheers

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Thankful for Romans 4:16–25

"That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations"—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, "So shall your offspring be." He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was "counted to him as righteousness." But the words "it was counted to him" were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification."
Romans 4:16–25 (ESV)

Nuff said... This is the promise of the Gospel and for what I am most thankful.

Cheers.

Monday, November 25, 2013

Hating God... John 15:23

He who hates Me hates My Father also. John 15:23

"I don't need Jesus, I have my own relationship with God." That is a dangerous position to take. You don't need Jesus. I wonder why?

Is it His love and compassion?
His call to social justice?
Maybe it is the care He takes for strangers, or maybe even the respect He has for women...?
Certainly it can not be His desire to see you made whole and restored to fellowship with God. No I think I know the problem friend....

Jesus is more than a good man or a great teacher. As C.S. Lewis made very clear, He would have to also be the Son of God. That's the rub... You say, "I have my own relationship with God". That is rubbish. What you have is a god of your own creation... one who allows what you want to do and whatever consequences, if any, this deity bestows are mild. No... you have a relationship with a being of your own creation, an imaginary friend.

(End rant.)

Friends, please listen to my heart. I want you to connect (or reconnect) with God and that can only happen through the Lord Jesus Christ. He loved you so much that He was willing to suffer the agony and shame of the cross. If that is too far fetched to believe, I am sorry... but then again... many thought that the idea of the earth is not the center of the universe was absolute non-sense.

Think on these things....

Cheers

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Jesus, Service, and You (me too) --- John 13:12-17

So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
John 13:12-17

Some have taken this occasion to mean that we should be washing one another's feet. That is fine and good I suppose, but do not miss the spiritual and practical lessons Jesus is trying to convey. Service, in Jesus' Kingdom, is the mark not only of true leadership... but it is also expected.

Cheers.

Friday, September 20, 2013

Genesis 3 - The Fall

Genesis 3 - The Fall from Chris Johnson on Vimeo.