Walking In Truth

Our world is incredibly divided today. There are ever, rapidly changing opinions regarding what is true and moral and how we should be living our lives. Today, Pastor Johnny is going to explain how your worldview drives your emotions, decisions, and actions in life. He will challenge you to think about your own worldview and determine if it’s even based on God and His word. If your worldview isn’t biblical, then it’s based on the world and its sinful, evil foundations. Allow the Bible to be the guide on what you say, think, and feel!

Did you know that fleeing isn't a likely Biblical option for us as believers? Sure, there are times we should flee from sin and temptations – those are obvious. But, As Pastor Johnny teaches today, you'll learn that way more often, we are commanded in scripture to stand up, be bold, be strong, and take action. God fights our battles and will often work through us, so our availability is key. Pastor Johnny reminds us that bravery will come from the Lord in order for us to face the hard times.

What if I told you that praying is good, but it doesn't stop there? As Pastor Johnny teaches today, you'll learn that many believers might be tempted to use prayer as their only action. Many times, the Lord places us in the path of someone in need not just to pray, but to also offer some kind of physical or tangible assistance. Pastor Johnny reminds us that we are here, walking this Earth, for a reason. Ministering to others isn't just limited to what we do in church, but to be a good friend and kind citizen as well.

Getting better. It's probably a universal goal. I'm sure everyone has even just a little motivation to improve something in their life. As Pastor Johnny teaches today, you'll learn that our struggle with sin will never end. That can sound depressing and make you want to give up. But, Pastor Johnny reminds us that it's actually a good sign that you have such a battle because if you weren't bothered by it, you'd likely not have the Spirit of God within you! He continues to work despite our shortcomings.

One thing is true for every single person: our natural self is bent toward being wicked. It's a harsh reality. As Pastor Johnny teaches today, you'll learn that understanding not only explains why Christ's sacrifice was necessary but also how stark and amazing that exchange is! Pastor Johnny reminds us that although we are redeemed and saved, our flesh continues to struggle and will do so always as long as we are on this Earth. Thank God for the gift of grace in spite of ourselves!

Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can do this all on your own. And don’t believe for a minute that you are alone. In the Church, you’re surrounded by broken people just like yourself. People who have sinned, and still face temptations on a daily basis. They’ve also experienced victory and want to help you do the same. As Pastor Johnny will point out in today’s message, even David – a man after God’s own heart – needed the help of friends. They helped carry him through some extreme trials.

This is one example of what makes David so relevant to every one of us. He had moments where it must have felt like the world was against him – just read the Psalms and you’ll find evidence of that. But, as Pastor Johnny will point out in today’s message, instead of losing heart, David dug deeper into his faith, choosing to believe in God’s promises. He trusted that the purpose God had for him was bigger than his feelings at that moment - God didn’t let him down, and He won’t let you down either.

While David would have his fair share of failure in his life, at heart, he wanted to honor God. We find this character strength as we witness the game of cat and mouse between him and King Saul. Saul acts based on his feelings – he feels his power slipping away and he knows he’s fallen out of step with God, but instead of repenting, he continuously reacts in anger. As Pastor Johnny continues our study of 1st Samuel, we’ll be challenged to honor God in our own lives – even when it’s hard.

Do you rely on your past victories? You'll hear in today's message from Pastor Johnny that it's not enough to rely on your past instead you should be walking with Jesus daily. You should be growing your faith all throughout your life not just relying on the past wins you've experienced. Be vigilant because the enemy is looking to trip you up and cause you to stray from the path of righteousness. Jesus has obtained the ultimate victory and it is from there that you should live, not from your own.

Is there something in your life that you need to truly repent of? You'll hear in today's message from Pastor Johnny that repentance looks different from remorse. Remorse is feeling sorry or ashamed that you did something but repentance takes that feeling a step further and involves you changing your behavior. King Saul exhibited remorse for his behavior towards King David but then he continued to do that same behavior. He was sorry he got caught but not sorry enough to actually change.

Are you holding your life with open hands to the Lord? Are you receptive to changing your plans in accordance with what the Lord is asking of you? In today's message from Pastor Johnny, we learn from the example of King David how to live our lives in submission to God. During moments when it was tempting to make his own decisions and take his own actions, David submitted out of obedience to God. Is there something that you feel God is calling you to? Will you listen and follow the call?

Is there someone in your life that comes to mind? Someone who needs to be encouraged and pointed back to the Lord? In today's message from Pastor Johnny, you'll hear about the ways that the Lord sustained King David in times of distress and attack. If you have someone in your life struggling, the most loving thing you can do for them is to speak truth, life, and love into their life. Remind them who they are in Christ. Speak scripture over them. Pray for and with them. Remind them of the good news that gives hope.

Are you facing an enemy? Do you find yourself and your family under attack? In today's message from Pastor Johnny, we learn from the example of King David that we should take refuge in the Lord during difficult times. Run to the Lord when faced with Satan's attacks. He is here for you and fighting for you. David did this many times when he was facing enemies like King Saul. He took refuge in God's presence and was sustained. Run to the Lord rather than away from him as you take on enemies in your own life.

Are you prepared for battle? In today's message from Pastor Johnny, we learn from King David's example on how to be a warrior for the Lord. Spiritual warfare is real and whether you know it or not, the enemy is after you. But fear not! The Lord has equipped you for battle. He has given you the tools you need to fight with strength. Pick up the Shield of Faith, the Sword of Truth, and the Helmet of Salvation. The battle belongs to the Lord so take courage and stand your ground when facing a spiritual attack.

Do you follow Jesus? Do you consider yourself to be a disciple of his? In today's message, Pastor Johnny explains what it means to be a true disciple of the Lord. God is seeking more than mere churchgoers. He desires more from you than to just show up. God is looking at your heart. Do you have a heart for the Lord? Do you love him? Are you seeking to be like him? These are the markings of a disciple. Someone learning to be more like Jesus. Someone striving to love Jesus and live for him.

Do you ever feel hollow inside? Not a type of hollow that food can fill, it goes deeper than that. We try to fill it with friends or careers or hobbies, and they may help for a while, but in the end, the emptiness is still there. Today, Pastor Johnny reminds us of the spiritual bread that Jesus provides for us. He didn’t offer satisfaction to the body, but to the soul. If you feel like you’ve been searching your whole life and have come up dry, give Jesus a try. He can give you a purpose and peace that’s beyond your understanding.

Have you ever struggled with the chaotic nature of our world? Some people can handle chaos and distractions very well, in fact, they thrive in it. But there are others who can’t handle all the business; there’s just so much going on constantly. Pastor Johnny reminds us today, that no matter how busy your life gets, it’s important to take time to be alone with God. You can talk to Him all day long, but when He wants to talk to you, you better make sure your mind and surroundings are quiet enough to listen.

Sometimes, we get a gut feeling that doesn’t make sense to anyone but us. Maybe it doesn’t make sense to you, but your body is trying to let you know that there’s danger coming. In the same way, we listen to our gut – Pastor Johnny reminds us today – we need to listen to the Spirit of God. We become so distracted that we can’t just sit and listen to God…but we need to! There are times when He’s trying to speak and you just can’t hear Him. Be sure to take the time and talk with your savior, but more importantly, listen.

Do you ever feel like you’re guessing in life? Things can feel so uncertain and unstable that it seems like everything’s arbitrary what difference can we really make? Pastor Johnny reminds us in today’s message, that we need to prioritize intimate time with God. We need to be sure and take time out of our day to talk with and listen to Him. He provides the direction and encouragement and communion that we need. So, if life is feeling a little chaotic, remember to take your time with God; a relationship requires it.

It’s in our nature to retaliate. When someone says something nasty to you, your first instinct is to bite back with hurtful words. If someone disrespects you, it seems only fair to insult them in return. We don’t like feeling less than or incapable and so we put others down to make us feel better. But today, Pastor Johnny reminds us that God desires more than just reactions from us, He wants us to think things through and consider what Christ would do in our situation. Reactions only serve to hurt.