Persecution, Pressing, and Power
We love the idea of power. We preach about destiny. We crave the anointing. But what we don’t want to admit—what we try to avoid at all costs—is that the pathway to promise often leads straight through the fire. According to a sermon by Jeremiah Johnson titled: “Persecution, Deception, and the Harvest,” he makes note that the early Church didn’t enter into the fullness of its calling until persecution pushed them out of comfort and into commission.
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you… and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” — Acts 1:8
The Pressing That Produces Power
There are three pillars of the New Testament Church highlighted:
The Great Commission (Matthew 28)
The Great Baptism (Acts 1:8)
And the Great Persecution (Acts 8)
The believers were anointed to go out into all the world but they weren’t moving. Jesus said go to Samaria and the ends of the earth, but they stayed in Jerusalem—until persecution hit. Johnson doesn’t sugarcoat it: “You can’t get to Samaria without persecution.” We as believers really need to reflect on that. Some of the greatest moves of God in our life will only be activated under pressure. We are praying for breakthrough, but God’s allowing a breakdown. Truth is oil can only be released in the press. Jesus showed us this in Gethsemane, the “oil press,” where He was squeezed to the point of blood. Why do we expect to bypass suffering when even our Savior suffered and clearly states we will too?
“What gets squeezed out of you in hard times is a revelation of who you really are and where your faith really is in Jesus,” the apostolic leader of The Alter Church declared.
In scripture, we see that there is distance between anointing and appointing. David was anointed king but had to wait 13 years to live in that call. Instead of a throne, he lived his life on the run because he was being hunted down by the current demonized king of Israel, Saul. Instead of a crown, he wore the weight of betrayal and the scars of war. That space between promise and fulfillment is what Johnson called “the process.” It is not a detour, rather it's the design. God often uses persecution, trial, and tribulation to refine the man or woman of God.
If you’re in the fire, don’t curse it—steward it! It is not about whether you’re called, many are called, It’s about whether you will last. Whether our roots are down deep or not is determined in hard times.
The Fallacy of a Painless Gospel
There’s a dangerous lie creeping into modern Church: that if you give your life to Jesus, your problems vanish. Johnson exposed it with raw truth: “Jesus isn’t your crisis ATM. If we didn’t have problems, there’d be no need for faith.” True faith isn’t shown when the bills are paid, your kids are healthy, and the doors are open. True faith shouts when chaos breaks loose. True faith worships with tears streaming down the believers face. True faith declares the goodness of God while standing in a cemetery or a courtroom or even prison.
Ask yourself what do I do when the devil’s waging war? Do you worship through the storm? We must stop throwing a pity party for ourselves. God is never invited to those. Christians need to stop calling moaning, complaining, and whining intercession. Some of us have built altars to self-pity and wonder why heaven is silent. God does not call us to victimhood, rather He responds to faith. Children of God are not a victims, we are more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus. You might be in a season of crushing. But what comes out of you now will determine what gets built later.
Try and focus on the breakthrough that will come from this personal pain. Jeremiah Johnson was not just preaching theory, he lives this message. His mother, diagnosed with bipolar schizophrenia, spent years institutionalized. His father left ministry and battled suicidal thoughts. His brother ended up in prison. In those moments, what he described as hell, the enemy would accuse him saying: “You’re a fraud. Your worship means nothing, This isn’t real.”
His answer back was “Shut up, devil!” When his mom wasn’t healed, he declared, “I’ll see moms healed across this nation.” He exercised his faith faith. He activated kingdom-minded, war-ready, unshakable belief. All sons and daughters of The Most High King have to know it is not about the outcome, it’s about obedience. Do not put your faith in miracles, put it in God.
Be a Contender, Not a Pretender
Acts 8 reveals a mighty harvest but not without a fight. We meet Simon the sorcerer, a man who desired power without intimacy. A man so unrepentant he told others to pray for him rather than praying for himself. Johnson charged the body of Christ saying: “We need people who will contend, not pretend.” Persecution reveals pretenders. Storms separate fans from followers. Some of us are still stuck in fan mode, cheering for Jesus when it is trendy, but then walking away when it costs too much. Christianity isn’t about convenience, it’s about covenant.
Apostle Mike Signorelli of V1 Church is raising up a congregation of “wild ones”—believers with uncommon faith who worship undignified like David, contend with boldness, praise in the storm and stay all in with God, even when everything feels broken. As a follower of Jesus, we must all remember not to let the devil isolate you. Surround yourself with saints who roar, saints who break atmospheres, saints who carry breakthrough even when they haven’t seen it yet. Because what we are stewarding today may unlock someone else's freedom tomorrow.
About the Author
Jeannie Ortega Law is a chart-topping singer, evangelist, media personality and author from New York City. She can be reached on social media: @JeannieOrtega or emailed at Info@JeannieO.com
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