Sunday August 16, 2026Sunday August 16, 2026
Lance Johnson Ministries
WOW! What an impactful statement from Bishop Lance: following Christ is not laid back; it’s intentional and in constant pursuit! In today’s message, Bishop Lance says that there’s no such thing as “casually” following Jesus. When you follow Chri
29:30•16 Aug 2026
From Addiction to All‑In Faith: Bishop Lance Johnson on Roots, Anger and Real Freedom
Episode Overview
- Surface habits like anger or relapse often grow from deep roots such as hurt, bitterness or past abuse that must be addressed, not just trimmed back.
- Casual or part‑time faith makes relapse and spiritual drift more likely; Bishop Lance stresses being a seven‑day‑a‑week, all‑in follower of Jesus.
- Honest self‑assessment and admitting "where you really are" is essential for genuine freedom from addiction and destructive patterns.
- Religious culture can excuse recurring problems as long as they’re controlled, but Bishop Lance urges people to seek true freedom rather than mere management.
- He describes a powerful baptism experience where he believes God removed a 30‑year root of anger, showing that long‑standing struggles can change in a moment.
“"You cannot be a casual follower of Jesus. You've got to be an on-fire follower of Jesus. You've got to put your hand to the plow and never look back."”
What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? For Bishop Lance Johnson, it began with a $250-a-day cocaine habit, a case of beer and a fifth of liquor every day, and a heart that, as he says, "didn't really care" about his own family. In this message, he talks honestly about being radically set free from drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and other addictions in 1990 – and yet still wrestling for decades with one stubborn issue: anger.
Speaking to people who are tired of weekend-only faith and on‑again, off‑again sobriety, Bishop Lance insists there’s "no such thing as casually following Jesus." If you’ve "been battling with addiction," he says, you can’t be a "Sunday morning weekend warrior" – you’ve got to be all‑in, 24/7. He uses his own story to show how some problems are like branches you keep cutting back – temper, resentment, unforgiveness – but the real issue is the root buried underneath.
He shares painful childhood memories of violence, scars from beatings, and the guilt and shame of losing his temper as a pastor, even in front of church leaders. It’s raw, sometimes uncomfortable, and very recognisable for anyone who’s thought, "I thought I was past this" after a relapse or emotional outburst.
The turning point comes as he recounts a powerful moment in a baptismal pool, where he says God didn’t just trim his anger again, but "pulled it completely out by the root." From there, he calls people to stop denying their wounds, stop excusing destructive patterns, and let God deal with the deep stuff, not just the visible habits.
If you’re tired of repeating the same cycles, this message asks a straight question: are you passively drifting, or are you ready to go all‑in for real freedom?
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