Walking In Truth

If you've ever been part of a team where each member didn't pull their own weight, you realized quickly how uneven the workload became. Pastor Johnny teaches today that once you've received confirmation from the Lord, it's important to act on His leading. It's truly an honor to serve the King!

Being tender and loving towards those who have wronged you is a true testament to a changed life for Christ. Pastor Johnny reminds us today to lean into David's song. Let go of bitterness, hold no grudges, and ask the Lord to help you have a change of heart towards someone who has crossed you in the past.

It's a fact that 100% of Christians still struggle with sin. We are saved and redeemed and bound for heaven as a Child of God, yet we still suffer from sin and temptation. Pastor Johnny reminds us in that struggle, to flee from sinful behavior and actions because it will only get worse if left alone.

If you compare your life against the lives of unbelievers you know, how does it look different? Is it because you don’t drink or smoke or hang out with people that do? Is it because you have a Christian bumper sticker on your car? Or is it because you demonstrate the love and grace that Jesus demonstrated for you? As Pastor Johnny will explain in today’s message, following Jesus will mean avoiding sin, but it’s equally important that you do things that glorify Him and spread His Gospel.

You’re going to encounter pushback and arguments from people in the Church over unbiblical and non-essentials – being an imperfect body of redeemed humans, those remnants of our old nature are inevitable. But unity amongst believers is extremely important to God. He wants us to be known for our love for Him as well as one another. As Pastor Johnny will encourage us in today’s message, you need to put your “pet” issues aside and look at your fellow believers through the eyes of grace.

Serving God should always be about Him. Whether you’re restocking toilet paper, wiping tables, or up on stage using your talents, it’s all about Him. Sadly, we see a lot of people who enjoy being in the limelight claiming glory and attention for their works that belongs to God. In today’s message, Pastor Johnny will point out that serving God is the job of a servant. Your reward is the joy that comes with fulfilling your purpose as a worshipper and glorifying God with your words and deeds.

Many people get really upset if you suggest that some people won’t get into heaven. It’s an offensive thought that God would judge any human being to the point of denying them eternal rest. The thing is, it’s not God who’s denying them anything – it’s their own choice. God has made a way for anyone who will come to Him. As Pastor Johnny will warn in today’s message, it’s only when you choose not to accept that invitation that you choose an eternity of separation from Him.

Many believers in western, first-world countries could accurately be described as soft. Really the majority of us fit that description. We can certainly be thankful that we have religious freedom with minimal persecution and oppression, but in many countries where Christianity is illegal, you’ll find believers who don’t have the convenience of being lukewarm. As Pastor Johnny will point out in today’s message, when your faith could cost you your freedom or even your life, you have to take it seriously.

This is one of the most fundamental commandments for those who follow Jesus, yet it seems to be one of the hardest to live by. We allow petty differences and varied interpretations of Scripture to drive wedges between us. It’s sad and all too common amongst Christians. It not only creates unnecessary struggles in our own lives and church communities, but it reflects poorly on the Church as a whole, as well as our Savior who demonstrated incredible grace for us. Today, Pastor Johnny will remind us of the higher calling we have to love one another.

The greatest gift you could ever receive! The gift of salvation because of Jesus’ sacrifice at the cross! All you must do is accept his gift! As Pastor Johnny shares, He paid for this gift of salvation in full…once and for all. And He not only gives you an eternity in heaven with Him but freedom from sin here on earth. Freedom from your sins past, present, and future. Rest in His completed work. A work that was finished by a perfect savior to redeem and restore you…because He loves you.

Salvation is very simple. You’re either saved or you’re not. You’re in or you’re out. There is no in-between. As Pastor Johnny shares you are either going to spend eternity with God or you won’t. It’s your choice. So why not choose God today!? Admit you’re a sinner in need of a Savior. Believe that He died and rose again and confess that He is Lord of your life. When you believe that with all your heart, you are saved! You’ll be with Jesus for all eternity! Rejoice! You are now a child of God!

So, you haven’t exercised in years and you decide to jump into a marathon race. With no training, you toe the starting line and take off! How do you think it will go? You guessed it…not well. As Pastor Johnny shares this is how your spiritual life as a Christian can be without training. It’s a long race that requires training that only Christ can provide. And He is the only one qualified to train you because He has run the race…perfectly. So trust Him…He will help you run and win the race.

Could you imagine running a race and not knowing where the finish line was? You’re just running aimlessly hoping to find it! How do you find it? Well as Pastor Johnny shares Jesus helps you find and cross the spiritual finish line to heaven when you focus on Him…the author and perfector of your faith. So instead of running here and there looking for answers…looking for that elusive finish line…fix your eyes on Jesus and He will lead you there…because you can’t get there on your own.

When I was a teen, my dad started getting into shape. He started with running. It was tough, and at first, he ran a couple of blocks before he ran out of steam, but little by little, he pushed himself further, until eventually, he was running marathons. It was a process that took a lot of effort, and as we will hear from Pastor Johnny today, we are in a process for our spiritual race too! The great news is that the one who started us on this path is going to see it through to completion. We cross the finish line victorious because of Him!

Did you know that in weight training, if you only ever lift the same weight, you'll stop seeing gains? For growth, there always needs to be a next level of challenge, something to strive toward. Pastor Johnny shares, that the same applies to our spiritual life. If everything is going ok, then we tend to slack off in the spiritual disciplines. When things are hard, we run to God, lean on him, and our faith grows stronger. If we're running a race of faith, we should try hard things in order to grow our faith muscles!

If you found out that you'd been signed up to run a marathon what would your first reaction be? For me, it would be a bit of dread mixed with panic, because I have some understanding of the grueling training and the punishment a race like that promises. Pastor Johnny shares with us today that the race of faith we are on doesn't promise an easy road, but requires strength and endurance, and will surely be filled with difficulties. But don't worry, we have someone who will help us run it!

Each name we read in this chapter of Hebrews has some fantastic story attached to it, and at the same time, they all have other stories that show their frail humanity and sinful struggles. Pastor Johnny shows us the hope that their stories should inspire in us. Their heroic faith and God's amazing grace in their lives, shine far brighter than their failings. The same is true for those of us who believe. If you have a battle of faith right now, trust God to show up, call out to him, and walk in heroic faith!

It doesn't take much to realize that we don't have much control over our circumstances in life. Sure, we have our part to play, but when it comes down to it, we don't have much power without God. Pastor Johnny continues looking at the Heroes of Faith in the book of Hebrews today, and encourages us that no matter how insignificant, weak, broken, and fallible we might be, GOD is still able to do amazing things IN and THROUGH us! If you feel unusable, you might just be a prime candidate for God's Glory!

They are called “Heroes of the Faith”. Joshua, Rahab, Gideon... The things they did were remarkable, but Pastor Johnny reminds us today that God is the one who does all the work. Faith is trusting that God is able, even in the most impossible of circumstances, to accomplish HIS will. If we want to see our name listed with these faithful believers, we need to put God back in the place he deserves. He determines the outcomes in our lives, can you trust him to take care of the details?

When you're in times of difficulty are you tempted to think that God has abandoned you or that you're doing something wrong? Don't fall for that lie that Satan wants you to believe. When you're suffering God is at work in your life, He wants to use difficult times to grow you into the person that He wants you to be! Today, in his message, Pastor Johnny will remind you that God is faithful. He can be trusted. He loves you more than you can ever imagine. So much that He sent His Son to die for YOU!