FEARLESS

Part 2 of "Lighting Up The Darkness" by Pastor Christy Johnson, spoken on 1-11-2015.

Part 1 of "Lighting Up The Darkness" by Pastor Jeremy Johnson, spoken on 1-4-2015.

"He Is" by Pastor Jeremy Johnson, spoken on 12-7-2014.

"Unwrapped" by Pastor Jeremy Johnson, spoken on 12-21-2014.

"Free Indeed" by guest speaker Pastor Paul Geerling from iSee Church, spoken on 12-14-2014.

Part 4 of "Paradigm Shift" by Pastor Jeremy Johnson, spoken on 9-07-2014.

On this journey of life, there are many moments when it is easy to feel very lonely, even when we are not alone. People may surround us, yet we feel as if no one were there. John 14:16 tells us that we have a Counselor, Holy Spirit, who will never leave us. Holy Spirit will always be with us, to the end of time. When this reality and truth sets in, no trial or social situation can convince us that we are alone.

We know that trials are bound to happen during our span of 70-80 years on this earth. Life is much like a puzzle, and not the kid friendly 6 piece kind, either. It’s more like the 300 or 1,000 piece puzzles that almost seem impossible, yet aren’t. And they definitely don’t take thirty minutes to complete.

Have you ever felt like you had to have everything figured out? Your 18th birthday comes along, and now you’re supposed to know what to do. Your 25th birthday comes along, and now you should have everything figured out about your life and future. Your 30th birthday comes along, and if you don’t have it figured out by then, something’s definitely wrong. Right?

Wrong.

Life is a puzzle, and all the expectations the world puts on us to have it all “figured out” by a certain time is exactly that: the world’s expectations. They are not God’s expectations or standards. He only requires that we walk with Him in truth and humility and follow Him wholeheartedly. That is a journey in itself!

God has a specific plan for each person’s life, which is comparative to the picture on the front of a puzzle box. There is an end product after all the pieces come together, but if you judge the puzzle by the individual pieces, you will be very lost. A person needs to get the vision of what the puzzle should look like, and then all the pieces will make sense.

Same with our lives. God has created each person’s “puzzle” to look differently. Not one is the same, or should be the same. His plan for each person is different. All our individual experiences and the things that made us who we are, are the puzzle pieces that make up our big picture and contribute to God’s original and unique plan for our lives.

So ask God for the vision of your “puzzle,” or should we say, of your life. The vision of what He has for your life will give you strength to get through the trials and temptations that come your way. It’s all about perspective. It’s all about what you focus your eyes on. Focus on the big picture, the vision, not all the small pieces that can be confusing. God is about to do something great, so get a vision and shift your paradigm!

Food For Thought:

1. When do you tend to feel lonely most, and how can you shift your perspective in those moments toward the truth?

2. Do you know what your "puzzle" looks like? What do you think God's vision for your life is?

3. Have you ever felt pressure to have everything "figured out" about your life before? How did this make you feel?

4. How can you shift your perspective to see the big picture on circumstances in your life instead of getting caught up over small trials or trivial things?

Part 3 of "Paradigm Shift" by Pastor Jeremy Johnson, spoken on 8-31-2014.

Paradigm Shift Pt 3

Moments. It’s what we celebrate as people. Birthdays, graduations, finishing a race, entering into the next grade for school. Life is made up of moments, but more importantly, it is made up of a journey. Full of excitement, pain, highs and lows, sometimes it’s pleasant, and sometimes it’s anything but easy, but it all makes up our individual journey.

Each of us has an individual perspective on life and on circumstances that we face. Some of us look at our issues and think we may die, we feel depressed, we’re full of anxiety, or maybe some of us see an opportunity for victory. Wherever you’re at in your journey, God has you there for a purpose. Life is a series of tests and lessons, and God is not wasting any pain that comes your way.

Maybe some of us are going around in circles and going through the same things because God’s trying to open our eyes to a new perspective on the issue. He’s trying to shift our paradigm. He’s trying to use what’s in front of us, and the little we have, to reveal something great to us.

In Matthew 14, Jesus uses the disciples to feed 5,000 people (around 15,000 including women and children). They start out with five loaves of bread and two fish, and after the whole miracle comes to an end and everyone is fed, they are left with twelve baskets with scraps of food in them. Twelve baskets, one for each disciple. If ever in the future they doubted that Jesus was able, or if they started to lose faith, it was almost as if they could feel the scraps of bread in their basket and remember the miracle Jesus did. If He did it before, He can do it again!

When we “feel the scraps” of our past, we are reminded of what God has done in our lives. We are reminded of His faithfulness and grace. This is what telling people about Jesus, praying for the sick, etc. does. It is reminding us of where we were when Jesus found us, and in that moment, we celebrate His faithfulness again and believe for greater!

In your situation, what scraps of the past do you need to feel to remind yourself of God’s goodness? What perspective do you need to gain to learn what God is teaching you? Life is a journey, and God is constantly wanting to shift our perspectives on things to see like Him. As Jesus would say, “He who has ears, let him hear” (Matt. 13:9).

Food for Thought:

1. Where are you at in your journey with God? What do you think He’s been trying to teach you?

2. What are the scraps of your past that you can feel to remind yourself of God’s faithfulness?

3. What has been your perspective about the hard circumstances of life lately?

4. Has there been something you’ve been going through over and over again? Is there something God may be trying to shift your perspective about?

5. What perspective will you choose to have this week on your circumstance?

Additional Scriptures for Study:

• Mark 6

• Matthew 14

• John 1:1

• Philippians 4:6-12

Part 2 of "Paradigm Shift" by Pastor Jeremy Johnson, spoken on 8-24-2014.

What if in this life, there was something invisible to the eyes that would change everything about the way you live here? Something invisible, yet not less important. Something beyond your senses, yet more real than anything you’ve ever seen or felt. This is the exact reality of eternity. Eternity is not something we see with our eyes until we pass from this life, yet it does not mean it is any less real than what we see and touch in this world. Our lives here will vanish like a vapor, and are incredibly short compared to the length of eternity. What should we do in light of this? How should we live and operate in this world if eternity, in reality, is our true home?

Many people in our world live with no thought of eternity. They do what they want, collect material possessions, and search for fame, meaning, and success. They live as if the temporal is eternal and the eternal is temporal. The reality of the Kingdom, though, is that the eternal is what we should be living for.

As God’s children, we need to have a paradigm shift about eternity. To realize that we are residents of eternity and aliens of this world. How would you live if this was your paradigm? Would you give more, love more, forgive more, tell people about Jesus more?Would it change the way you think about and do everything? We think so.

Peter and the disciple’s paradigm was shifted when Jesus told them to cross over the lake to the other side. On the way, they encountered a terrifying storm, and in the middle of the storm, Jesus came walking to them on water. After the disciples thought He was a ghost, Jesus reveals his identity to them, and Peter tells Jesus to call him out on the water if it’s really Him. Jesus calls him out and Peter comes to Him, walking on the water. You better believe the disciples’ paradigms were shifted in a dramatic way. Walking on water? That’s not possible! Peter took his eyes off Jesus and began to sink. Jesus responds to Peter’s sinking, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” Jesus sent the disciples across the lake knowing they’d encounter a storm, knowing they’d be afraid, knowing Peter would walk on the water and then sink. He was doing it all to push them to a shift. To test their faith and challenge their paradigms.

You see, with Jesus, the impossible is made possible. With Jesus, we are taken from a temporal mindset and elevated into an eternal mindset. Let your whole world change today as you focus on the reality of eternity in light of this life. Let him push you to a paradigm shift, to believe for greater and to live for more!

Food for Thought:

1. Are you living with an eternal mindset or temporal mindset?2. What is keeping you in a temporal mindset? Do you hold the temporary things of life close to your heart?3. How is God challenging your faith lately? Do you think He’s trying to shift your paradigm about something?4. Will you choose to live with an eternal perspective this week? What does that look like practically for you?

Scriptures for Further Study:

o Matthew 6:22o Matthew 14:22

Part 1 of "Paradigm Shift" by Pastor Jeremy Johnson, spoken on 8-17-2014.

Over the years, discoveries have been made and things have been invented that have shifted the way we think and the way we live our lives in a dramatic way. The automobile, the light bulb, the telephone, and the discovery that the earth is round. These new inventions and new information confronted the reality of what people believed to be true and opened the door for a completely new way of living. Before we saw these things in reality, though, someone had to have the thought in their mind that something greater was possible. We are told in Romans 12:1-2, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Many of us want to know our purpose. We want to know why we are alive on this earth. What were we created to do? What is the will of God for our lives? According to the Scripture above, before we understand what the will of God is for our lives, we must renew our minds according to God's Word. We must wash our thinking with the Word of God and begin to set our minds on heavenly things. It is only when we are transformed by the renewing of our minds that we can truly know the will of God for our lives. There has to be a paradigm shift in us. A paradigm shift in our thinking means that we look beyond our circumstances, our situations, and our issues and see a greater reality. A Kingdom reality. It is when we see from God's perspective that we can truly live a meaningful life and fulfill all that he has called us to.So dig deeper, renew your mind, and embark on one of the greatest adventures you will ever know. There is a purpose and a good plan that the Lord has for your life, and this is just the beginning! Food for Thought:1. Have you ever felt like you were created to do something great with your life, but you just didn't know what it was?2. How have you tried to fulfill the purpose for your life?3. Think about your present circumstances and issues. What is God's perspective on these things?4. What scriptures can you use to renew your mind this week?

"Happy Scared" by guest speaker Pastor Neil Smith from Planetshakers, spoken on 8-10-2014.