Sunday April 5, 2026

Sunday April 5, 2026

How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This fiery message from Bishop Lance Johnson speaks straight to anyone who’s tired of surface fixes and hungry for real change, especially those who know the pull of addiction first-hand. Speaking out of his own past with drugs and alcohol, Lance calls out “casual Christianity” and connects it directly to the ongoing struggles many face.

He insists that ticking religious boxes won’t break chains: “What would happen if you prayed like you used to do drugs?” That single line captures the whole tone – urgent, practical, and uncomfortably honest. The focus is on the heart, not just behaviour. Instead of trying to fix politics, culture or family first, he argues that change starts with deep surrender to God’s authority and a serious commitment to prayer.

A light, occasional prayer life, he says, simply shows how little we actually depend on God. For anyone coming out of addiction, that hits home: the same intensity once poured into the next drink, high or payday is exactly the focus he urges people to pour into seeking God. You’ll also hear a strong challenge to the modern “consumer church” mindset.

Lance contrasts church members who just receive with believers who become “a house of sacrifice”, bringing their lives, time and passion to the table. He pushes for spiritual maturity – moving from “nursery rhyme prayers” to grown-up intercession that lines up with God’s will, not just personal comfort.

For those walking through recovery, this message offers a clear, demanding but hopeful path: wholehearted devotion, persistent prayer, and trust in the Holy Spirit as the one who can do what self-effort never could. It might leave you squirming a bit, but it could also leave you asking: am I chasing God with the same passion I once chased my addiction?