Sunday July 19, 2026Sunday July 19, 2026
Lance Johnson Ministries
For some people, the most exhausting thing about socializing is feeling like there isn’t enough recovery time in between. It’s just a constant pouring out, and not enough pouring in. The same can go for faith as well. In today’s message, Bishop Lanc
29:30•19 Jul 2026
Too Busy for Jesus: Bishop Lance Johnson on Abiding Instead of Burning Out
Episode Overview
- Constant serving and ministry activity cannot replace personal intimacy with God and time at Jesus’ feet.
- Treating God’s presence as routine or common leads to cynicism, offence, and spiritual decline.
- Working for God is different from abiding in God; true strength and gifting come from the secret place.
- Church hurt, persecution, and everyday pressures can choke spiritual growth if they are allowed to dominate the heart.
- Each person can choose to be a “revival carrier” by consistently recognising God’s presence and cultivating private worship and prayer.
“Working for God is not the same as abiding in God.”
He paints a vivid picture of being “so busy working with the cares of the world, with ministry, going through the methodical motions of responsibility, and you're not sitting at the feet of Jesus.” Using the story of Martha and Mary from Luke 10, he contrasts frantic activity with quiet devotion, pointing out that “working for God is not the same as abiding in God.” The episode speaks directly to anyone who gives a lot to others—whether through church, family, or recovery work—and suddenly realises their own relationship with God has slipped into the background.
What remarkable journeys have people faced head-on against addiction? Bishop Lance Johnson’s story starts in the grip of alcohol and drug dependence and moves into a life-changing encounter with Christ in 1990. From that backdrop, this Sunday message is all about what happens after you’ve found faith: how you keep it alive instead of burning out. You’ll hear him challenge people who feel drained from constant serving, ministry, or everyday responsibilities.
Lance talks about the danger of treating God’s presence as routine, becoming cynical about worship, and turning ministry into a substitute for intimacy. He’s blunt about it: “You came to drink from a river you refused to create.” He also tackles offence and church hurt, showing how disappointment and criticism can choke spiritual life, much like stony ground in the parable of the sower.
Instead, he urges people to become “revival carriers” who recognise that the same God who will be seen in heaven already dwells within them by the Holy Spirit. If you’ve ever felt spiritually exhausted, resentful, or disconnected while still doing all the ‘right’ things, this message nudges you back to the secret place—private worship, honest prayer, and time at Jesus’ feet.
It’s a strong reminder that recovery, faith, and service stay healthy only when they’re fuelled by daily communion with God. So, are you a revival carrier, or has busyness quietly turned you into a revival killer?
Do you want to link to this podcast?
Get the buttons here!
More From This Show
The latest episodes from the same podcast.