Derek Charles Johnson

This Is Not Our Home | AS BOLD AS LIONS DEVOTIONAL | July 5, 2023 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:15 If we’re honest, the past few years of the American church have allowed a creeping in of various teachings and falsehoods; things which overall have compromised the Gospel. We must be willing to admit the church as a whole has fallen more in love with the world and not vice versa. In our efforts to speak into the culture, we’ve often taken a softer stance on various issues so as not to offend or turn others away. We’ve allowed pastors to preach sermons, authors to write books, and musicians to play songs that don’t necessarily line up well with God’s word. It’s not always easy to admit when we have been wrong, but I believe collectively the church must repent for the ways it has ignored God’s standard and chased after lesser things. You and I must find a balance between existing in the world but not being caught up in it. Earth is not our permanent residence. Heaven is. We must prepare for eternity and in the process, tell others about Jesus. It’s easy to get distracted and focus on the here and now. It’s easy to want to solidify our own standing in life and not want to rock the boat too much. But when we start to shrink back from tough subjects, the world rushes in and controls the narrative for us. We have to keep our focus on Christ and realize this place is not our home. We are called to be here and called to share the Gospel. Life’s too short not to! Question for today: Is there anything in my life right now distracting me from purpose of telling others about Christ? Pray: God remove our distractions and refocus us back on you. Forgive us for any half-truths or false truths we’ve allowed to seep into our midst. Jesus is the only means by which we are saved. Want to subscribe to the AS BOLD AS LIONS devotional and blog mailing list? Click here to sign up: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/as-bold-as-lions Tune in to the weekly AS BOLD AS LIONS podcast, available on all major streaming platforms including: Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3DfKqbU Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3gp6jvJ Pandora: https://pandora.app.link/6RgTqIoe0gb Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3G4Zt86 iHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3UymTde My website podcast player: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/podcast We’d love to hear from you! Email: info@derekcharlesjohnson.com Interested in hosting Derek for an event? Visit https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/contact

Christ Be Magnified | Derek Charles Johnson (with lyrics) Cover of the song “Christ Be Magnified” written by Cody Carnes, Cory Asbury, and Ethan Hulse. Acoustic guitar and vocals by Derek Charles Johnson.
 ---------------------------------------------------------- WHERE TO FIND DEREK CHARLES JOHNSON: —MUSIC:
 Buy:https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/store
 Stream on Spotify:https://spoti.fi/3oD2mtH 
—RUMBLE:https://rumble.com/c/DerekCharlesJohnson
 —FACEBOOK:https://www.facebook.com/derekcharlesjohnson1
 —INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/derekcharlesjohnson/
________________________________________________________ CHRIST BE MAGNIFIED LYRICS Were creation suddenly articulate With a thousand tongues to lift one cry Then from North to South and East to West We'd hear Christ be magnified Were the whole Earth echoing His eminence His name would burst from sea and sky From rivers to the mountain tops We'd hear Christ be magnified O Christ be magnified Let His praise arise Christ be magnified in me O Christ be magnified From the altar of my life Christ be magnified in me When every creature finds its inmost melody And every human heart its native cry O then in one enraptured hymn of praise We'll sing Christ be magnified O Christ be magnified Let His praise arise Christ be magnified in me O Christ be magnified From the altar of my life Christ be magnified in me
 I won't bow to idols, I'll stand strong and worship You And if it puts me in the fire, I'll rejoice 'cause You're there too I won't be formed by feelings, I’ll hold fast to what is true If the cross brings transformation I'll be crucified with You 'Cause death is just a doorway into resurrection life If I join You in Your sufferings, then I'll join You when You rise And when You return in glory with all the angels and the saints My heart will still be singing, my song will be the same O Christ be magnified Let His praise arise Christ be magnified in me O Christ be magnified From the altar of my life Christ be magnified in me O Christ be magnified Let His praise arise Christ be magnified in me O Christ be magnified From the altar of my life Christ be magnified in me

A Growing Dependence | AS BOLD AS LIONS DEVOTIONAL | July 3, 2023 For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I Who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one Who helps you.” Isaiah 41:13 It can be easy to convince ourselves that independence and less reliance on outside forces is the best way to live. In the USA, our Founding Fathers upheld the idea of an independent nation and the sovereignty of the individual. Freedom was a rallying cry that brought this Union into existence. Much of this is good and with proper intention. Less dependence on government, less intrusion by the State, and less interference in matters of daily life help to foster a society that can stand on its own two feet. Ideally, government should support the family and support the God-given role of man and woman, husband and wife. Sadly, this is rarely the case in our country today. Within Christ however, our dependence must grow day by day. We put aside the effort to just “pull ourselves up by our bootstraps” as we encounter trials or tribulations. No, our faith must deepen and we must regularly admit and confess our need for more of Him, not less. In Isaiah, the Lord reassures Israel as the One Who holds their hand; Who literally helps them. Our deepening reliance must always be in Him and less upon this world. To grow more dependent on the Lord is a good and wonderful thing. It’s not a bad thing at all! Question for today: In my life, how have I become more dependent upon the Lord? Pray: Lord I admit my daily need for You. It’s a need nothing in this world (not government, not money, not my own ability) can provide. Want to subscribe to the AS BOLD AS LIONS devotional and blog mailing list? Click here to sign up: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/as-bold-as-lions Tune in to the weekly AS BOLD AS LIONS podcast, available on all major streaming platforms including: Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3DfKqbU Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3gp6jvJ Pandora: https://pandora.app.link/6RgTqIoe0gb Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3G4Zt86 iHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3UymTde My website podcast player: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/podcast We’d love to hear from you! Email: info@derekcharlesjohnson.com Interested in hosting Derek for an event? Visit https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/contact

The Comforter Has Come | AS BOLD AS LIONS DEVOTIONAL | June 30, 2023 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. John 14:26 In the Bible, the Holy Spirit has several descriptive titles one of which is the “Comforter.” For today’s verse, I specifically chose the King James Version as His title is translated Comforter here. Other translations use similar words such as Helper, Counselor, Companion, and so on. In this verse, Jesus is reassuring His followers. He will be returning to Heaven. But the Father will send them the Holy Spirit and He will be with them, teaching them and guiding them as they go forth with the Gospel. We do well to study these attributes of the Holy Spirit because we have full access to them when we accept Christ. In John 14, Jesus explains that He leaves us with peace. He leaves us with an ability to remember His [Christ’s] words. Really these things come to us because of the indwelling Holy Spirit. In short, the Holy Spirit gives empowerment for daily living as Christ followers. We sometimes lack an awareness of the Spirit or just shy away because we misunderstand His role in the Trinity. The Holy Spirit is what comes in and lives inside of us when we make a declaration of faith in Jesus. What a blessing it is to know, the Comforter has come…the promise is fulfilled! Question for today: Do I misunderstand the role of the Holy Spirit in my life? How can I read the Bible in a way to help my understanding grow? Pray: Thank You Lord for sending us the Comforter! May He bring peace and an awareness of what Christ has taught us through His word. Want to subscribe to the AS BOLD AS LIONS devotional and blog mailing list? Click here to sign up: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/as-bold-as-lions Tune in to the weekly AS BOLD AS LIONS podcast, available on all major streaming platforms including: Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3DfKqbU Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3gp6jvJ Pandora: https://pandora.app.link/6RgTqIoe0gb Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3G4Zt86 iHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3UymTde My website podcast player: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/podcast We’d love to hear from you! Email: info@derekcharlesjohnson.com Interested in hosting Derek for an event? Visit https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/contact

The Blessing Of Encouragement | AS BOLD AS LIONS DEVOTIONAL | June 28, 2023 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Good job bud! Proud of you.” I can remember the words of my dad growing up who would encourage me and spur me on to work harder and do my best. I still love hearing his words whether on the phone or a text, knowing that it lifts my spirits and keeps me going. Whether or not we have a parent like that in our lives or a teacher or mentor, we know how good it feels to simply be encouraged by someone. It’s a blessing that little else can replace and a timely word or gesture can help keep us on-track when everything else seems to be falling apart. I believe as we grow in Christ we must ask ourselves “Who am I investing in?” There is so much that is broken in our world today. There is so much division and hurt going on, even within the church. I know church people are not perfect and we can turn on each other fairly easily. But what if we strived for more and started to build bridges within our fellowships by simply encouraging each other? It doesn’t take a lot but I assure you the act goes a LONG way. A kind note. An acknowledgement of “Hey, I’m praying for you.” A selfless act like bringing a meal or visiting someone in the hospital. All of those things help to build the kingdom and they happen one person, one relationship at a time. Have you been blessed by someone else’s encouragement? Good. Now go and do likewise in Christ. Question for today: Who is one person I can reach out to today and simply bless with an encouraging word? Pray: God help me to be a person who encourages and seeks not to tear down but build up. Want to subscribe to the AS BOLD AS LIONS devotional and blog mailing list? Click here to sign up: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/as-bold-as-lions Tune in to the weekly AS BOLD AS LIONS podcast, available on all major streaming platforms including: Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3DfKqbU Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3gp6jvJ Pandora: https://pandora.app.link/6RgTqIoe0gb Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3G4Zt86 iHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3UymTde My website podcast player: https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/podcast We’d love to hear from you! Email: info@derekcharlesjohnson.com Interested in hosting Derek for an event? Visit https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/contact

I Have Decided To Follow Jesus | Derek Charles Johnson Modern reworking of the hymn “I Have Decided To Follow Jesus.” Acoustic guitar and vocals by Derek Charles Johnson. Words: Simon Marak 
-------------------------------------------------------------
 WHERE TO FIND DEREK CHARLES JOHNSON: —MUSIC: 
Buy:https://derekcharlesjohnson.com/store
Stream on Spotify:https://spoti.fi/3oD2mtH
 —RUMBLE:https://rumble.com/c/DerekCharlesJohnson
 —FACEBOOK:https://www.facebook.com/derekcharlesjohnson1
 —INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/derekcharlesjohnson/
___________________________________________________ I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS LYRICS I have decided to follow Jesus I have decided to follow Jesus I have decided to follow Jesus No turning back, no turning back Though none go with me, still I will follow Though none go with me, still I will follow Though none go with me, still I will follow No turning back, no turning back The world behind me, the cross before me The world behind me, the cross before me The world behind me, the cross before me No turning back, no turning back I have decided to follow Jesus I have decided to follow Jesus I have decided to follow Jesus No turning back, no turning back