My Testimony

My Testimony

Brian and Jenn Johnson

Brian gives a vulnerable and inspirational look into his story. He talks about a nervous breakdown he had and how God used that experience to forever change his life. He talks about Peter and how he truly found the grace of God. “Consider it a gift if God is the last resort in your life.”

Initial thoughts on the message:

Brian and Jenn begin their message by honoring the team at Bethel. “I love giving credit where credit is due. The secret is building a team, not being showy personally.”We try really hard to do everything in house: lights, sound, records, etc".

Brian’s heartbeat is for Christ and a deeper level of surrender. This is his hope for this message. Surrender the little and big. Every emotion. The good and the bad. 

Worship is the most powerful force in the universe when you are going through the fire. Nothing can stand in front of anyone who knows the power of worship.

 

Brian begins the message with this statement:

“If the message of freedom and creativity sinks into our hearts deeper and becomes more important than the message of surrender, all the freedom will turn to sin and all the creating we do will point to our minimal abilities. Greatness comes out of and after surrender happens. Skipping that step will result in possible, maybe temporary success but never lasting. God shares his glory with us when we surrender. If you want to be the head, you’ve got to surrender.”

 

Talking about the Disciple Peter:

• Passionate

• Worshiper

• Stubborn, bull-headed

• Cut the ear off of the guard who tried to take Jesus

 

Peter’s problem:

• Confident in his ability to acknowledge his weakness, he chose to cling to the illusion of strength

• He acted out of his own strength instead of relying on the grace of God

• Took matters into his own hands

• 2nd Timothy 2:1 “Live your life empowered by God’s free-flowing grace which is your true strength found in the anointing of Jesus in your union with him.” 

• When Jesus went to the cross, Peter denied him

• We are more confident in his ability to hold to him than his grace.

• We have to behold him and have a revelation of grace to change us

 

When Peter denied Jesus he realized God’s unchanging and extravagant grace

• All the prophecies about Peter became a reality on the shoreline when Jesus rose from the dead and he asked Peter if he burned with love for him (Jesus)

• Jesus took someone who denied him days before to build his church

• Peter had a revelation of grace

• Weight, power, and anointing is ONLY "by grace"

• Side note: When David talks about being a “worm” he isn’t talking about being low and despised, he is talking about being a specific worm that, when crushed, spills it blood like die. David wanted to be spelled out for others like Jesus was and used for his glory. We are not lowly and despised in the sight of God.

 

In our culture, showing weakness is the last thing we want

• Stuffing down pain hurts

• We spend most of our lives avoiding pain and when we face the pain it is what propels us into our destinies

• We avoid pain at all costs BUT are we content when we don’t have the things we numb our lives with?

  • Are you doing it to celebrate/enjoy it or are you doing it to ignore pain?

We were made to FEEL pain and we were made to OFFLOAD that pain to God

Brian uses the analogy of blowing up a balloon. As we get hurt through the day, the balloon (our heart) expands. We are supposed to release our pain and hurt to the Lord daily, hourly, by the minute (releases air from the balloon). Brian talks about how he didn’t realize he was in pain and (as he sits with a balloon that is inflated to its max) on July of 2015 after years of coping Brian started feeling physically weird. He had a complete nervous breakdown. He popped. Brian talks about losing control. Brian was put on medication and was basically a vegetable for months, walking around the house. Brian gives a vulnerable and impactful testimony about how he tried to cope and had horrible days. 

 

We live our lives in a way where God never has to become real in our lives. Consider it a gift if God is your last resort right now. 

 

“It’s the worst and best thing that has ever happened to me” - Brian

 

We do devotions wrong; we get to give. But if we can get to the place where we are all by ourselves with the Lord with no outflow. Just you and Him. 

• Those who know they need a savior, they ALWAYS get what they need from Jesus. The humility that says, “God, without you I’m hopeless” HAS to be a part of our connection with Him. 
• When we get alone with God, He reveals all mysteries to us. 
• I might have to give up everything I’m doing right now in order to follow Christ