Sunday July 12, 2026Sunday July 12, 2026
Lance Johnson Ministries
Think about a chocolate fountain; nothing can come out of it until something is put into it. There cannot be a steady flow of chocolate unless there’s enough in it to keep it going. The same goes for faith; putting nothing into it will dry it out. In to
29:30•12 Jul 2026
Keeping the River Flowing: Bishop Lance Johnson on Revival and Daily Faith
Episode Overview
- Revival is presented as God’s response to people who are hungry, humble and committed, not as a random event that just happens to churches.
- Consistent private prayer, Bible reading and worship are stressed as essential; relying only on church services is said to lead to spiritual dryness.
- Believers are described as conduits of “rivers of living water”, making them contributors to revival rather than just consumers of spiritual experiences.
- The Mary and Martha story is used to warn that busyness and ministry can quietly replace intimacy with Jesus and undermine spiritual strength.
- Offence, persecution and life pressures are linked to the parable of the sower as factors that can choke spiritual growth if daily abiding in Christ is neglected.
“You’re praying God come down, and God’s saying, I’m trying to come out.”
What secrets to maintaining sobriety can be uncovered? This Sunday message from *Release the Roar* finds Bishop Lance Johnson using rivers, chocolate fountains and the story of Mary and Martha to talk about what keeps faith – and spiritual life – flowing instead of drying up. Drawing from his own journey through addiction into a passionate walk with Jesus, Lance argues that revival isn’t random or reserved for special churches.
As he puts it, “Revival is a response to somebody.” You’re not just splashing about in God’s river; “you ain’t just a player in the river, you’re a contributor to the river.” The point is clear: waiting for church to feel alive while neglecting your own prayer, Bible reading and private worship is a dead end. Using a memorable chocolate fountain picture, he explains that nothing comes out unless something is poured in.
The same goes for faith and recovery – if the only time you pray, worship or open your Bible is in a service, “then you need revival.” Lance links this directly to sober living: without daily spiritual disciplines, old frustrations, offences and pressures start to choke spiritual growth, much like the stony ground in Jesus’ parable of the sower.
He spends time on Mary and Martha, showing how easy it is to get busy *for* God and forget to sit *with* God. Ministry, serving, even helping others with their struggles can quietly replace intimacy. For those rebuilding life after addiction, this is a gentle but firm warning: activity is not the same as connection.
Perhaps the most striking line is his reminder: “You’re praying God come down, and God’s saying, I’m trying to come out.” The episode is aimed at Christians hungry for real revival in their own hearts, especially anyone in recovery who senses their spiritual river slowing to a trickle and wants it to flow again. If your faith feels more like a dried-up stream than a river right now, are you ready to start pouring back in?
Do you want to link to this podcast?
Get the buttons here!
More From This Show
The latest episodes from the same podcast.