Luke 18 Part 1Luke 18 Part 1
Lance Johnson Ministries
If there were a drink that could quench your thirst forever, would you take it? This is what Jesus offered the woman at the well. He understood that she had faced a difficult life and made mistakes, but that did not mean she lacked purpose. Jesus sees you
29:30•20 Jul 2025
Living Water vs Empty Religion: Lance Johnson on Luke 18 and True Freedom
Episode Overview
- Religion and church attendance on their own cannot fill the deep voids in a person’s life.
- A genuine relationship with Jesus is presented as the only source of lasting satisfaction and “living water”.
- Trying to mix faith with alcohol, drugs or sexual compromise is linked to an unmet spiritual hunger.
- Knowing God’s character, not just His promises or doctrines, builds real faith and boldness.
- Holding back even “one thing” from God can keep a person sorrowful and spiritually stuck.
“When you drink of the living water, you will never thirst again. When you know the king of glory, you don't have to look outside of a relationship to fill the empty places of your life.”
How do people find hope in the darkest times? Bishop Lance Johnson brings that question right into the heart of Luke 18, speaking to anyone who feels spiritually dry, stuck in religion, or tangled up in addictive habits that never truly satisfy. Drawing from the story of the rich young ruler and Zacchaeus, the episode contrasts two very different responses to Jesus. One man knows all the commandments, has grown up religious, and still walks away empty.
The other is a wealthy tax collector who runs, climbs a tree and joyfully welcomes Jesus into his home. It’s a sharp reminder that knowing *about* God is very different from actually knowing Him.
You’ll hear Lance call out the void that religion alone can’t touch: “Religion will not fill the voids in your life… we have tried religion instead of an intimate relationship with God.” He speaks directly to “sipping saints”, people trying to mix faith with alcohol, drugs or destructive relationships, and points out how those compromises are often symptoms of a deeper spiritual hunger.
At the centre is the offer of “living water” – a relationship that replaces Budweiser, Jack Daniels, anger, bitterness and jealousy with peace, wholeness and purpose.
As Lance puts it, “When you drink of the living water, you will never thirst again… Jesus will do you better than any high the world can ever give you.” The tone is bold and passionate, but also aimed at those on the fence: the broken, the prodigal, and even the “older brothers” caught up in religious tradition.
If you’re battling addiction, clinging to old habits, or just tired of going through the motions at church, this episode asks a simple but challenging question: what’s the “one thing” you’re still holding back from God – and are you ready to let it go?
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