Only for a Moment

Featured Rev. Nina Brown JohnsonLeave a comment

“We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore I have spoken, we also believe, and therefore speak; 

Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus and shall present us (disciples) with you.

For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. 

For which cause (for this reason) we faint not, but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: For the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 14:14-18

The Gen Z’s use some of the coolest slang, just as all generations do, as teens we all need our own language to set up apart from the fogies that came before us.

My favorite that I think applies here is “That’s the hill I’m gonna die on.” It means exactly what it says, it is absolute determination.

A stance taken so strongly that come what may we will not be shaken or moved away from the belief that we hold to be true.

We looked at some of the things Paul had suffered in our past post and how he had come to terms with what he had suffered and at the time of his writing still suffering.

The days in which we find ourselves are extraordinary days, as what can be shaken will be shaken.

Think of it this way, if you were trying you best to take water to someone who is on the ground dying of thirst and there is another person standing right beside them that wants them to die and the closer you are to reaching them with that water, the more that adversary tries to prevent you from getting there, finally the enemy resorts to literally picking up whatever can be found and hurling it your way in hope of stopping you from proceeding any father.

That is the reasoning behind many of the afflictions suffered by God’s people.

God does not send bad things our way as punishments or because he doesn’t love us, it is all part of being human being on this earth and as you read what the disciples and martyrs suffered you also see that with pivotal spiritual times the afflictions are greater. 

But we also have been blessed with instructions for us to not only survive but to eventually thrive even in the darkest of times.

Thinking about what they suffered, they had the Old Testament, but they were living the New.

They had to trust and to know and to believe that everything that they knew of Jesua and his teaching and for some of them even knowing him personally was true and accurate and to place not only their mortal lives but their very souls in his hands.

They seemingly were going against in a sense everything that they had been taught while actually in truth they were embracing all that had been taught only on an entirely new level.

These guys had to go against the leaders, the elders, and I am sure in many cases, against their own families to preach and believe and share the Gospel.

They were beaten and hated, and imprisoned from all sides, their own people, the Romans, everyone and everything trying to stop that which is unstoppable.

The “wearing out of the saints’ described in the Book of Daniel.  All very specific spiritual times in not only human history but eternal history.

Paul resolving that these suffering were a light affliction and only for a moment.  

In the eternal span of infinite time, they were and so are our sufferings, that does not make it any easier, but God left us his words as a reminder of these things,

What we suffer now is nothing in comparison to the wondrous glorious eternity that we will one day embrace and all the sorrow, and all the trials, and pain of this life we no longer even come to mind because we will forever dance and rejoice with the Lord himself.

Renewed day by day in our spirit by that hope and promise. 

The only way we will hold on is to have that resolve that this is the hill we are willingly to die on.

Taking life one day at time, this is why Jesus warned us not to worry about tomorrow.

It is very hard not worry or ponder the future, we have to pray and completely reprogram our own brains as in this world we are taught from birth to worry about the future, but the world knowledge is completely contrary to God’s knowledge.

Believe me I struggle with all these things too and no one is exempt so don’t ever feel like you are alone. we strengthen each other by sharing our faith and praying for each other.

Seasons do change, sometimes it may feel like the longest “winter” of life, but we can look back and see other times in life when God faithfully took us through other situations that we thought would never end.

And when you stand before the Lord and hear “Well done, my good and faithful servant” and enter into his joy. every moment of this life will be as nothing.

Revelation 3:21: “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I overcame, and am set down with my father in his throne.”

 

Sweetly Sleeping

Rev. Nina Brown Johnson

“Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep.

In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by my own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.” 2 Corinthians 11:24-27

That passage was written by Apostle Paul, as you probably remember Paul had been Saul and it was his personal mission to destroy anyone who worshipped and believed in Jesus.

Jesus came to him on his last mission in which he had written permission to bring anyone male or female back by any means necessary to Jerusalem to be punished.

Jesus changed his plans and his name. As rotten as he had been, once Jesus was revealed to him, he accepted the truth and Jesus had said that he was a chosen vessel for him and that he would suffer many things for his name.

This had started with him being blinded for three days when Jesus had appeared to him, he also fasted during those three days until God sent Annais to pray for him and he received his sight and began his ministry for Jesus.

To say he suffered a thing or two would be quite an understatement. He had written the passage above when others were hassling him, there is always someone used by the devil or their own flesh that want to tear us down and accuse us of thinking we know everything.

There is so much more of his testimony in that chapter, please read it if you get a moment.

I just gave you the highlight, but just stripes alone, at his writing, totaled one-hundred and ninety-five, having occurred over five different beatings.

The Jews of the day had a law that they seriously considered merciful, I will use that word extremely lightly, but they would sentence a person to being whipped forty lashes and would only hit them thirty-nine times.

A real show of mercy there…

He tells us about being beaten with rods on three different occasions. Being shipwrecked also on three different occasions, being stoned, and being lost at sea, literally in the sea a night and day.

He goes on to expound on all possible human sufferings, but he experienced them all and he wrote the majority of the New Testament while imprisoned.

I can’t wait to meet him, his ministry ended with his beheading and the words God gave us through him and the testimony of his life is a blessing to us all.

But what I want us to check out is the watchings, he mentions his experience with this in other passages also.

Watching is also referred to as night watches.

It is those times in life when no matter how tired or exhausted we either must or feel we must remain awake.

Sometimes it due to needing to stay awake because of a danger or situation or caring for a sick loved one.

Other times it may be our minds simply being tormented by thoughts, worries, or reliving past regrets or sorrows, fears of the future or even physical causes.

I wanted to look at some scriptures and promises of God that are really helpful to pray and meditate on when experiencing these times and there are many for different circumstances.

  • “When I remember thee upon my bed and mediate on thee in the night watches. Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.”  Psalms 63:6,7 *
  • “Stand in awe, and sin not; commune with your own heart upon your bed and be still. Selah” Psalms 4:4*
  • ” I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou LORD. only maketh me dwell in safety.” Psalms 4:8″
  • “Upon this I awaked, and my sleep was sweet unto me.”  Jeremiah 31:26*
  • “It is vain (useless) to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.” Psalms 127:2*
  • “Who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.” 1 Thessalonians 5:10 *
  • “Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about (surround me) with songs of deliverance. Selah. ” Psalms 32:7 *

Think about that, the Lord surrounding us with song! No thought more beautiful.

My late sister had perfected this in her life, she had been through many, many terrible things and had suffered a lot of heartache, she loved Jesus and his anointing on her life was there for all to see.

She finally shared with me her coping secret, she literally prayed herself to sleep each night. She said that she would just talk to the Lord and pray for different people until she fell asleep. She would tell me how God would put things in heart while she prayed.

We should all give it a try.

I truly pray that these verses will be an encouragement to you, Thanks for reading!  Love & Peace till next time!

NBJ 2024/ Rev. N Brown Johnson

A Little More Hope

Rev. Nina Brown Johnson

“For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: For what a man seeth, why does he yet hope for it? Romans 8:24

Hope is one of most powerful forces given to us. Hope can truly make difference between life and death and it second only to love.

1 Corinthians 13:13: “And now abideth (continues forever) faith, hope, charity (love), these three; but the greatest is love,”

Hope makes it possible for us to be, believe that good news will come, believe that things will turn around, believe for lost loved ones will come into the sheepfold.

We hope for things planted to bloom, and we hope for the future to be better than the past.

Hope is one of the most dangerous things to ever be lost.

Job in his suffering in the midst of the attack of the devil on his life, said this: “My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope.” Job 7:6

When we are young time seems completely irrelevant, seems to drag on and on… as we wish our lives away with thoughts and hopes of our exciting life ahead, with no one telling us what to do or how to do it. but soon those days come, and seasons change.

As we age and grow, we realize how fast it really has gone by and it seems with each passing day that invisible clock speeds up, ticking away our mortality.

Teenaged freedom fantasies turn to fearful futuristic thoughts of uncertainty, and making our own decisions reveals its own reality of being responsible for those decisions and the consequences of wrong ones.

Job was completely laid waste by the enemy, and he had no hope in this world.

“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” 1 Corinthians 15:19

Our true hope most rest in the afterlife, we can and do certainly have hope in this life, but our main focus must be on the next.

Hope can be and often is the deciding factor between victory of defeat in this life and we can live on this earth for years and years without any hope in today, tomorrow, or next week.

We can be alive on the outside and we can even be truly saved and still be without hope.

We can ask for that hope, we can ask to have the newness of hope renewed in our lives because joy, peace, love, and hope all good things God will give as we ask, believe, and have patience in his timing.

Something that usually does not happen instantly, but you can later on look back over those times and see changes happening slowly each day.

Hope for this life and the hope in the next life that will take us all the way, no matter what the future brings.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” 1 Peter 1:3

We are dead and truly hopeless without Christ and God who had created us, brings us again to himself, giving us the most amazing promise of eternal life.

Resurrected and with Jesus forever, what could ever give us more hope?

I know this has been a running theme, but we need what we need and most of us can always use a little hope.

“Looking fior that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13

Have a blessed day.

NBJ 2024/ Rev, N Brown Johnson

If We Could Only See

Rev. Nina Brown Johnson

“Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel (plotted) with his servants, saying in such and such place shall be my camp.

And the man of God (Elisha) sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou passest not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down (avoid that place because there the Syrians lie in wait to attack)

And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once or twice (many times).

Therefore the heart of the Syrian king was sore troubled for this thing (extremely disturbed because his plan was known): and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew (tell) me which of us is for the king of Israel?

And one of his servants said, None, my Lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.

And he said, Go, and spy out where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.

Therefore sent he thither (forth) horses, and chariots, and a great host (army): and they came by night, and compassed the city about (surrounded).

And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth (went out early), behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. 

And his servant said unto him, Alas! my master (teacher) what shall we do?

And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.

And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see.

And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.” 2 Kings 6:8-17

We’ll get into how that story ended Lords will, in another post.

Few Bible accounts are more fascinating than those of Elijah and Elisha, as they moved in the realm of the miraculous.

The really cool thing about them both were just how human they were.

Two of the most infamous accounts being those of Eljah becoming discouraged and worn out and Elisha being mocked by teenagers harassing him by telling him to get his bald head up that mountain. What’s an angry prophet to do? He cursed them in the name of the Lord, and forty-two were attacked by bears.

Safe to say, he wasn’t made fun of after that day.

Just neat footnotes, but for us today we are focused on seeing what can’t naturally see and knowing what we do not carnally know.

The king thought he had a traitor among his ranks, when it was actually the hand of God at work, forewarning his people through the prophet.

The pagan king so brazen that he was going to take Elisha, but God had other plans.

We can sympathize with the young man, waking up to see that they are surrounded by the enemy. Attacks on our faith often come the same way, completely blindsided and unexpected.

As Elisha prayed the Lord allowed the young man to see into the spirit realm, he could see horses and chariots and a mighty army.

But this army was not an army of human warriors with crude weaponry, as that of those who wished them harm.

The army that surrounded them and stood for them was an army of the heavenly host whose chariots were of fire and whose weapons were supernatural from the arsenal of Jehovah God.

An army that no human force could match or defeat.

God in his graciousness, supernaturally enlightened the man’s eyes so that he could see the truth. Easing all the doubt and fear, as he understood that God really did fight on their behalf.

You as his child are under that same spiritual protection, that same watchful eye.

“The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’s throne is in heaven: His eyes behold, (see) his eyelids try (discern), the children of men.” Psalms 11:4

“The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry.” Psalms 34:15

That is comfort! Knowing that he sees us, watches over us, and protects us even when we feel the fear of the unknown as Elisha’s young helper felt, hopelessly surrounded and troubled on every side.

“For he shall give his angels charge over thee (you), to keep thee in all thy ways.” Psalms 91:11

Take him up on that today, realize that there are more for you and with you than you could ever imagine, and that God will protect you and that his angels watch over you.

Love & Peace! Praying this is an encouragement today. Join me next time we’ll finish up the story and discover what became of the enemy’s army.

NBJ 2024/ Rev. N Brown Johnosn

Just What We Need

Rev. Nina Brown Johnson

“(A Psalm of David) The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall, I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?

When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes came upon me to eat up my flesh (to destroy me), they stumbled and fell.

Though an host should encamp against me (a great army surround me), my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

One thing have I desired (asked) of the LORD, that will I seek after (will pursue): that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion (tabernacle, dwelling place): In the secret place of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me upon a rock.

And now shall my head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me; therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy: I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.

Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: Have mercy upon me also and answer me.

When thou saidst (you said), Seek ye my face; My heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD will I seek.”  Psalms 27:1-8

Good morning! Good evening and all that other jazz! Depending on when you are reading this.

It is raining at my house, it’s kinda chilly but still beautiful on all the tree blooms. Sometimes rain can beautiful but sometimes the rain just reminds us of all our tears, and we see no beauty through them.

That passage was on my heart this morning.

David was such a character, and he truly embodied every emotion that we go through.

He was up, he was down, he was hunted, he was king.

He was ridiculed, he was victorious, so many emotions and circumstances and God established his throne forever.

His brother jealously hated him, when God sent the prophet to anoint a new king, he was so insignificant to his family as far as their thoughts for his future that they did not even bother to call for him and yet he was the chosen.

He fought a lion, a bear, in defense of the sheep he was to protect, which was just the warm-up for the fight against a giant in defense of his people.

Him being the only one courageous enough to accept the challenge of the enemy. That acceptance leading to the further mocking and disdain by those whose own cowardice manifested through their hatred toward him.

The victory over the giant leading to more animosity from even the homicidal king himself, whom he had to hide from until the danger was over past and he would go on to fight army after army.

Being human, good choices mingled with tragic mistakes, but in all situations seeking God and his wisdom.

It was a process, and through every step of that process, he learned, and he sought, and God gave him all that he needed at the perfect moment in his need.

David’s enemies were human, humans influenced by forces of the enemy, and we also fight those enemies and the foes we often face are the foes of emotions, the losses, and grief, sorrow, and hopelessness that it all brings, and it comes to us all at one point or another.

David was learning the secrets to life as he was living life and God through his word has shared all that David learned with all of us.

He learned that nothing on this earth was of a greater benefit than seeking the face of God and resting in those secret spiritual places.

In his losses and in the losses of family, and in the pain and loss of his own son rising up and waging war against him, God saw him through it all.

Jesus is our secret place. He is our pavilion, our healer, our strength and He will be anything we need him to be in our lives.

He destroys our enemies, slays our giants, and still dries every tear.

“When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.” Psalms 27:10

When we have lost through death or simply have been abandoned as described here:

Job 19:14: “My kinsfolk (family) have failed, and my familiar (close) friends have forgotten me.”

There is a greater friend.

John 15:15: “Henceforth (from now on) I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends: for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.”

The dwelling place literally means to live in God and in his protection, his rest, and ask him and then allow him to be everything we need.

It is perfectly fine to ask him to fill all those voids left in our hearts, it is perfectly fine to ask him to just hold us in his spiritual arms and just let us cry, as a good earthly father will hold and comfort his child, allowing us to let go of all the vulnerability and pain, allowing us to feel safe, protected, and loved.

Years ago, I was going through something and was just at the end of my rope feeling so overwhelmed, helpless, and alone, I had family and friends I could call, but this was a different kind of thing. I had just cried and cried and finally I just said “Lord, could you please just hold me?”

And he touched me with all of it.

I wondered after the fact, is it even okay to ask for such a thing?

I went to church and at the time our pastor was a lady, who had been one of the first female pastors in our area and had gone through tremendous persecution for obeying God’s call, she has since gone home.

She testified one night shortly after my experience, her husband had been very sick, and she was sitting there crying and explaining what she had been through and feeling terribly lost and alone, with her husband sick and hospitalized, she said she just sat at her kitchen table and asked Jesus to please hold her, and he comforted her through the terrible ordeal.

“For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and my mother.” Mark 3:35

He is our Savior, our deliverer, our healer and he will be family, he will our friend.

Proverbs 18:24 “… and there is a friend that sticketh (stays) closer than a brother.”

Allow him to be whatever you need today. He loves you and will take you every single step of the way.

Sending prayers of Love & Peace your way!

NBJ 2024/ Rev. N Brown Johnson

Signs of the Times

Rev. Nina Brown Johnson

“And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against (across from) the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,

Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?” Mark 13:3,4

The greatest question in human history. Since Jesus ascended back into heaven after his resurrection, everyone has wanted an answer to this.

Even the disciples who believed that he would return during their generation because the wickedness was so great and we can see why they would think that with all the tortures and demonic evil of the Roman persecution.

Slow burning Christians to use as torches for the city and to light their parties. Pure evil, as the demonic rises in every generation.

But we can certainly understand why they thought that with that kind of evil the world was surely coming to end,

They saw vicious cruelty; we have seen wicked perversion and the slaughter of innocents.

Just as Jesus warned in advance our society would become as violent as Noah’s day and as sexually perverse as Sodom and Gomorrah.

As the world awaits Eclipse 2024, it is a great time to get people thinking about the Gospel but there is also no need for his children to be horrified.

He does not want us to be afraid because when everything is fulfilled, we will be with him, and he will reign over earth, and it will be beautiful.

We just fear the unknown, and I will tell you, for me personally, the thought of the sky, all the clouds, the entire firmament of what we see as humans looking up, to just roll back as if you rolled up a sheet of paper, is horrifying.

The knowledge that an earthquake so strong that the earth will literally rock on its axis is horrifying. Even though we know that it is part of the return of the Lord and that he will keep us safe and never harm us in anyway, it is still horrifying.

That is one of the reasons, in my belief, that he removes us, obviously to save our lives but to protect our minds, we couldn’t bear witnessing the carnage and the destruction, so we are moved safely away.

For sake of not being redundant, I just want to highlight a portion of his teaching on the end-times.

You can read a more detailed post on my sister site by clicking here. Hopefully that will also help ease the fear, you can also use that search bar on the site and search end times for much more on the topic.

But for today, let’s check out what he said:

“But in those days after the tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.

And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great glory. 

And then he shall send his angels, and shall gather together his elect (people) from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven,” Mark 13:24-27

There will certainly be many scary events that take place as time fulfils, Jesus even told us that men’s hearts would fail them for fear of things coming upon the earth.

But we are not to be afraid because we are his, and he gave us these signs to watch for so that we would know what is taking place as it unfolds.

Scripture tells us that not even Jesus knows the time of his return, not the angels, no one except the Father.

As he also taught us, his return will be as a thief in the night, which means it will be a complete surprise to the secular world, only understood by those who are awaiting his return.

Which will be without further warning to those who have rejected the warnings and rejected Christ. These events will be supernatural, and it will never be as easy as science having advance knowledge of such things, as they do solar eclipse and meteor showers, when this happens it will be cataclysmic,

It will not be something people will travel to watch as am entertaining journey. The end time events will literally be the powers of heaven shaken and that will be a terrifying event.

Love & Peace till next time!

NBJ 2024? Rev. N. Brown Johnson

Fair Wage

Rev. Nina Brown Johnson

“For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder (more or less a landlord) which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.

And when he agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace.

And said unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.

Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.

And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and he saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?

They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.

So we even was come (it became evening) the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire (wages), beginning from the last unto the first.

And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.

But when the first came, they supposed that they should have receive more; and they likewise received every man a penny.

And when they had received it, they murmured (complained) against the goodman (owner) of the house

Saying, These last have wrought but one hour and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and the heat of the day {We have worked the hardest and you have paid the one who only worked one hour the same}

But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst thou agree with me for a penny? {didn’t you agree to a penny}

Take that thine is, and go thy way (Take what is yours and go) I will give unto the last, even as unto thee.

It is not lawful for me to do what I want with mine own? (what is mine) Is thine eye evil, because I am good? (Are you upset because I am fair)

So the last shall be first and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.” Matthew 20: 1-16

This is one of my favorite parables, and I know you are probably thinking, “Look Chicky, you say that about all of them.”  Well, yeah, that’s accurate too, but this is like really, really high on the list 😊

The fairness of God is so displayed in this passage.

We are equal in the sight of God and that is awesome.

A person who received Christ as they laid dying on the deathbed is equal with someone who lived for the Lord for eighty years.

All those through every generation of humanity who were called and worked and served and grew the church are equal in the fact that we are all given the same wage of eternal life.

All those through time, from the beginning, third, sixth, and ninth, finally eleventh hour workers.

Those who bore the burden, think of those who started the churches and faced hatred, ridicule, and slaughter. Churches literally built on the blood of Christ and the blood of his martyrs, most of the prophets and apostles were murdered for their faith.

Those who bore the heat of the day, suffering persecution. Think about all those of the early church, all those who were martyred tortured, burned alive, threw into the coliseums to be slaughtered by animals.

Along with all those who have been martyred for their faith during every spiritual hour in which workers have been called, and those that are being martyred this very day. 

The mid-day and evening workers spreading the Gospel and not faced so much with the burdens and the heat. but putting in the work still the same.

The eleventh-hour workers, not having to work quite as long, as time is running out.  Their work must be fast, and it must be precise as there is no time for do overs.

These workers are faced with the challenge of working while it is almost pitch dark as the forces of hell give it all they got because they are also aware of the day dawning.

But at the end of the day, which will be the beginning of the new day, we will all receive our wages of eternal life.

Some who will still be alive and working for the kingdom when that trumpet sounds will be raptured having never known mortal death as those who have died in the Lord will be resurrected to never know death again.

Now that should get you excited!

Just a quick footnote, we do receive crowns and rewards as we store treasures in heaven and those are individually based.

Just think the little widow that was heckled by those who criticized her offering as small, Jesus quickly defended by saying that she had given more than all of the others because she gave all she had, which was two mites, (about fifty cents).

Just think she could have greater reward than the greatest evangelists of all time.

It is all precious to God. Never think what you do does no matter, God sees everything, every act of love, every smile, or kind word to someone who needs compassion, every hungry creature you feed.

Remember what he said about giving a drink of water to one of his children, it is as if you had given that cup to the lord himself, and it does mean that much to him,

Our kindness, our mercy, the love we have shown it all counts, it does not have to be monetary.

We will not know our rewards or treasures until we get there, but I believe many of us are not even concerned about the reward we will just be thrilled to be there.

But we can be assured that we have that wage of eternal life, whether we worked all day or just showed up at the last hour and ran out of time, we will be paid the same.

We will look later in another post at that ending verse concerning the called and the chosen, this can be a kinda scary verse if it’s not understood.

It can be misread as being called but rejected and not chosen, that is not what it means.

So, I want to quickly hit it.

When I was saved, I literally fell off the turnip truck. I knew nothing and my first pastor, who was an amazing man of God and has since gone home to the Lord, explained that verse to me, it means that many are called, and they are saved but some are chosen vessels for very specific tasks.

I hope this will encourage you today, we are not required to do certain works, we do not have some quota to fulfil, the only thing we have to do to collect our payday is accept the wonderful, free gift of the salvation of Jesus Christ.

That is pretty awesome!

Thank you for reading! Love & Peace to you and yours today!

NBJ 2024/ Rev. n. Brown Johnson

RISEN

Rev. Nina Brown Johnson

“Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. 

And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.

And they entered in and found not the body of the Lord Jesus Christ.

And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:

And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,

saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified and on the third day rise again. And they remembered his words” Luke 24: 1-8

The greatest day in human history or the history of the universe.

I can’t imagine the sorrow of Mary as she witnessed his death, this fulfilled what was spoken to when she had presented him as a baby at the temple.

” And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,

Then he took him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

Lord, now lettest thy servant depart (die) in peace, according to thy word:

For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

And Joseph and his mother marvelled at these things which were spoken of him,

And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his Mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against.

Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also that the thoughts of many may be revealed,” Luke 2:25-35

Jesus was sent to not only redeem Israel but to bring salvation to us, the Gentiles, which basically covers all other groups of people.

He brought salvation to the entire world, all that will accept him.

I think of Mary’s sorrow as a sword truly pierced through her heart at his death.

I think of all who loved him and all of us who love him now and the crucifixion story breaks our hearts into at what he suffered and that he suffered that for us.

And I think of the angels, the host of heaven, that love and adore him, how they must have sorrowed as he left heaven, not to even imagine seeing him tormented and murdered by mortal men.

As he told the disciple who tried to defend him at his arrest, he could ask God for twelve thousand angels to be sent, but all of these things had to come to pass, so that we could be reconciled back to him forever.

I have never read how they felt but knowing that they rejoice at the salvation of just one of us, I can only imagine the joy and the praise that rang out on that glorious morning.

The joy of Mary and the disciples, the joy of all who have ever believed, the joy of the angels and the knowledge that death had been defeated and the grave had no more power.

In one glorious moment he changed it all.

May his blessing be yours today, Have a wonderful Joyous Easter!

NBJ 2024/ Rev. N. Brown Johnson

The Cross of Christ

Rev. Nina Brown Johnson

“As many were astonied at thee; his visage (appearance) so marred more than any other man, and his form (body) more than the sons of men.” Isaiah 52:14

The prophecy concerning the appearance of Jesus after the forces of hell had all but beaten him to death.

Remember Jesus had even told the disciples, “Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.”

That is why it always irks me when people say that he received 39 lashes, because that was what the Jews allowed, they sentenced forty and would “forgive” one as a show of their “mercy.

They were something else and merciful is not the word that comes to mind.

But this was not the Jews, this was all the force of hell coming down on Jesus.

The High Priests had a secret trial and wanted him dead. Does anyone seriously believe that they cared how badly he was beaten?

That is what this scripture is saying, his face battered more than any other man, his body lashed and bloody more than any other men. 

I can never do an Easter post without pointing that out.

What they did to Jesus was beyond anything any human had suffered.

For sake of reading time, we’ll highlight the story.

He was arrested and brought before the elders and condemned, they then had to take him before Pilate, who said that he was Herod’s problem, because he did not want anything to do with it because his wife had warned him of her dreams.

Herod’s men then beat and mocked him and placed on him a purple robe and platted a crown of thorns, and these were not tiny little briars, they were actual thorns that pierced into his flesh, spit on him and mocked with false praise as King of the Jews.

Herod then sent him back to Pilate and they become buddies through the torture of Christ.

Neither could find just cause to execute Jesus.

Pilate could release a prisoner as it was Passover and tried three times to release Jesus, but they all cried for his crucifixion, because again, this was the power of darkness at work.

Pilate as evil and cruel as he was, washed his hands concerning the death of Jesus.

We’ll pick it up here: 

“And he (Pilate) said unto them the third time, Why, what evil has he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will there chastise (whip) him, and let him go.

And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might (would) be crucified. And the voices of them and of the high priests prevailed.

And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required (demanded).

And they released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

And as they led him away, they laid hold upon (grabbed) one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid his cross, that he may bear it after Jesus. (He was so battered that he could no longer carry it)

And there followed after him a great company (group) of people, and of women which also bewailed and lamented him. (crying and wailing with sorrow)

But Jesus turning unto them, said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.

For behold, the days are coming, in which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps that never gave suck (nursed a baby)

Then they shall begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us, and to the hills, Cover us.

For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall they do in the dry? (If they did this to him when things were well what would they do when terror would come upon earth)

And there were also two other, malefactors (thieves), led with him to be put to death.

And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and one on the left.

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.  And they parted his raiment, and cast lots (divided up his clothing and gambled for them).

And the people stood, beholding (gawking). And the rulers also with them desired (mocking) him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself; if he be Christ, the chosen of God.

And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar (to drink),

And saying, if thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.

And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, if thou be Christ, save thyself, and us.

But the other rebuked him saying, Dost thou (Do you) not fear God, seeing that thou art (you are) in the same condemnation?

And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward (punishment) of our deeds; but this man hath done nothing amiss (wrong).

And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou cometh into thy kingdom.

And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over the earth until the ninth hour. (twelve PM until three PM)

And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst (torn in half)

And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit:  and having said thus, he gave up the ghost (he died).

Now when the centurion (roman soldier) saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.” Luke 23:22-43

If you get a chance read the story also from the other Gospels, there are different details in each one. Can you imagine, to be dying on a cross and still mock God?

The beautiful forgiveness of Jesus shown to the man who came to his defense and asked forgiveness. As long as we have one breath left in us, he will save us, and that is what he died for.

NBJ 2024/ Reverend Nina Brown Johnson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Saviors Sorrows

Rev. Nina Brown Johnson

“Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground: he hath no form or comeliness; there is no beauty that we should desire him.

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 

Surely, he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him. and with his stripes we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 

He was oppressed, and afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughtered, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb (quiet, makes no sound), so he opened not his mouth.

He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression on my people was he stricken.” Isiah 53:1-8

A portrait of the life and suffering of the Messiah.

Scripture tells us that he grew up with love and goodness.

Isaiah 7:14,15: “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (God with us). 

Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.” 

He was holy, spotless, and perfect, completely sinless. The only human being to achieve this because he was born of a virgin by the power of the Holy Spirit.

And He is the Son of God.

So much in the verse that he had been given good things so he would know to refuse the evil of this world.

The biggest trap of the enemy is hurting us and wounding us especially as children so that we will be so desperate to find anything that appears as kindness or comradery, that he will use that to lure into worse bondage.

Think of runaway teens forced into prostitution by those who by those who pretended to rescue them. Think of those who pledge their allegiance to gangs, suffering violence and forced to commit even worse, because they had desperately needed to feel like they belonged.

Women and men who find themselves in terrible abusive relationships having been lured by abusers subconsciously playing out the roles they had seen their own parents play.

We could go on and on, the one I truly think we are seeing now are those who so desperately wish to forget their entire lives so much so that they are deceived into changing their entire gender,

I do not believe that this has anything to do with sexuality, for some I truly think it’s a social steppingstone and demonic deception.

But for others I truly believe that they are so hurt, so lost, and so wounded that they are attempting to use a new identity to kill the pain inside, seeming to wish that their former self had never existed, but that will only lead to more pain.

Only God can give us the healing, closures and true new identity in him.

We know also that he is beautiful beyond measure. Yet his physical appearance on earth was plain and nothing about him would make others follow him, as people often fawn after famous stars and other types of celebrity who are also often extremely attractive.

His beauty radiated from the inside, his followers were drawn to him because of his internal beauty, compassion, gentleness, and kindness.

Qualities strikingly opposite of those found in the religious leaders of the day, who were all too happy to condemn, quick to prescribe stoning, and never allowed for any human failure or error, merciless, unkind, unforgiving.

Jesus pointed this out to them on more than one occasion, and that truth convicting their hearts only made them want to destroy him all the more, rather than accept the truth of who he is.

“And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesu to put him to death; and found none.

For many bare false witnesses against him, but their witness agreed not together. (They lied on him but they couldn’t get their stories straight)

And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying,

We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another that is not made with hands.

But neither so did their witness agree together (couldn’t get their lies right this time either)

And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerwest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? (Are you nothing going to say anything?)

But he held his peace (did not respond)  and answered nothing. Again, the high priest asked him, Art thou (Are you) the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?

And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power ,and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Then the high priest rent his garment (tore his clothes), and saith What need we any further witnessess? Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.” Mark 14:55-64

They didn’t even recognize God when he was standing in front of them and yet they were the keepers of the temple.

They could never wrap their heads around the truth that he is merciful.

They equated God with a higher version of themselves, trying to attach to him their own human thoughts and behavior, this is one of the many reasons that he came to earth,

He came to cleanse us from our sin.

He came to be the sacrifice for all our sin.

But he also came to show us the true way, the way of love, peace, and mercy, forgiveness and grace. And as he spoke not a word until time came, showing us that all things have their place.

Thank you for reading, we’ll continue on next time on our journey to that glorious resurrection Easter morning!

NBJ 2024/ Rev. N Brown Johnson