You Are the Body of Christ Part 2You Are the Body of Christ Part 2
Lance Johnson Ministries
Jesus said that we can do nothing apart from Him. He said that He is the author and perfector of our faith, not us. He said that He is at work in us both to will and work for His pleasure. So, does that mean we kick back and just go with the flow? Bishop
29:30•22 Dec 2024
Growing Up in God: Walking in the Spirit and Leaving the Flesh Behind
Episode Overview
- Walking in the Spirit prevents the flesh from controlling behaviour and opens the way to real holiness.
- Believers need a solid biblical foundation and should know why they believe what they believe.
- Spiritual maturity means not being easily offended, clinging to positions, or collapsing when leaders fail.
- Worldly success in sport, business or education cannot protect against addiction or moral corruption; spiritual influence is essential.
- True kingdom impact comes from living in obedience to the Spirit and allowing God to change personal character and conduct.
“Holiness is not what I do out of the obligation of a religious institution or because of a book of written laws. Holiness is what I do as a result of a living God influencing my life.”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This message from Bishop Lance Johnson leans hard into that question, tying spiritual growth directly to breaking free from addiction and destructive habits. Speaking from his own past of alcohol and drug addiction, Bishop Lance challenges churchgoers to move beyond shallow belief and into a faith with real foundations.
He asks straight-up questions like, “Why do you believe what you believe?” and pushes people to be able to show from the Bible where their faith actually comes from. For anyone trying to rebuild life after addiction, this focus on truth and maturity hits close to home.
Centred on Galatians Chapter 5, he contrasts living in the flesh with walking in the Spirit, stressing that genuine change isn’t about religious rules, but about a “living God influencing my life.” He calls out hidden drinking, sexual immorality, manipulation and unforgiveness, linking them to an untransformed heart rather than mere weakness. The challenge is clear: if the flesh keeps running the show, it’s time to be honest about whether you’re really walking in the Spirit.
He also talks about culture, parenting and church life, arguing that success in sport, business or education never kept him off drugs, and won’t protect anyone else’s children either. Lasting change, he says, comes through spiritual influence, not achievements. For men and women in recovery, his message pushes beyond "getting clean" towards becoming a spiritual influence in family, workplace and community.
If you’re tired of cycling through relapse, shallow church experiences or trying to fix life with self-effort alone, this teaching offers a blunt but hopeful reminder: you were created on purpose, for a purpose, and you’re meant to walk in the Spirit, not just talk about it. So where is your faith actually taking you today?
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