Walking In Truth

Many people in our nation today, even politicians and leaders, will claim that they believe in God. Yet, as is clear every day, not very many of them actually live lives that demonstrate that faith at all. Today, Pastor Johnny will encourage you to not only declare your faith in God but also to live a life that clearly demonstrates it as well. Because you believe in Christ, you should be loving and serving others. You should be sacrificial and kind. You are representing Christ to a broken and needy world!

In scripture, there’s a clear call to obey the laws of your land and to submit to worldly authority. But, as Pastor Johnny declares today, you can’t be subject to man’s laws above the laws of God. You must obey God’s word and His commands above all else. This can be incredibly difficult in the world today. Those in authority are antagonistic against God and His truth. But, as a believer, you’re called to stand firm in your faith and stand up for the truth! Get involved in what’s going on in your community and pray for your leaders.

As a believer in Christ, this world isn’t your home. It shouldn’t feel like your home. Yet, as Pastor Johnny teaches today, you are still in this world. You are a citizen, and as a believer, you should represent Christ in a corrupt, non-believing world. Do good in the world. Love others. Have a positive impact on your community. Stand for truth and act on your faith in order to be a good influence! Despite the difficulties of the world, it needs to see you demonstrating the truth of God and His love!

So often, in the world today, people don’t want to hear the truth. They reject anything that challenges their choices and desires. Yet, as Pastor Johnny teaches today, don’t lose heart in sharing the gospel. People may reject it, but don’t give up. God desires to save everyone and wants everyone to know and hear how to be saved. Some may reject it, but some will be saved. Stand firm in the Lord! Like Paul encouraged Titus, to speak the truth in love, encourage right living, and implore people to believe.

Once you believe in Christ and receive His grace and forgiveness, your life is never the same. God, in His grace, won’t leave you where you were at, but changes and transforms you to be more like Jesus. His grace is powerful and able to change even the most wayward heart. Today, Pastor Johnny will encourage you to daily rely on God’s grace, rest in His forgiveness, and seek to live rightly in the freedom He’s given you. He changes you and enables you to live a holy life!

Many men and women in the world today think that their good deeds or their high-quality character will be enough to get them into Heaven. But, as Pastor Johnny teaches today, no one is good enough, can ever be good enough, to get into Heaven. All humans are sinful and undeserving of spending eternity with a Holy God. But God is so full of grace. You don’t deserve His love and mercy, but He extends grace to you to save you! You must receive His gift of grace and believe in Him to live forever in Heaven.

There are many in the world who are watching the church. And oftentimes, what they see from those in the church turns them off to the gospel. Men and women believers often dishonor God by the way they live their lives. Today, Pastor Johnny will encourage you to seek to live a life that is pure and holy so as to represent the Lord well. One way you can do this is to obey and act on the words you speak and believe. Don’t live a life of hypocrisy but one that is true and honoring to the word of God!

Women, in general, tend to speak more, are more emotional, and often gossip and slander others with their words. But, those who sow discord in this way can ruin lives and terribly reflects the Lord they love and serve. Today, Pastor Johnny will encourage you godly women to instead use your mouth to build up, inspire and encourage others. Spread love and the good news with your words instead of gossip. In this way, you reflect the Lord, whom you love and serve, very well.

People in the world generally stick to “their own”. People gravitate to those of their own age, from the same culture, and with the same opinions. However, there’s a different call in the church today. Pastor Johnny will explain the call of older men to bridge a gap and be an example to the younger men. As a faithful follower of Christ, you should demonstrate sound faith and self-controlled living. Live out what you believe and continually grow in spiritual maturity as an example to follow.

Today, Pastor Johnny warns about those who are always talking. You know the type; they believe themselves to be expert, on, nearly everything. And they think you need to know what they know. Many times, these are people who have ulterior motives; desiring to leverage their, supposed knowledge, into an area of control in your life. Sometimes, these are just people who, feel like they have to interject themselves into every situation, in order to feel like they're somebody. Either way, they can be dangerous. Flee from such people.

In his message, today, Pastor Johnny informs you, that, unfortunately, there is such a thing as pastoral abuse. Pastor's who want to argue, and don't like to be questioned, aren't really serving as a pastor. Pastors are to, gently give an answer, and to bear with those members of the body, who have questions, and may not completely understand. If you find yourself in a church, with a pugnacious pastor, you should take the exit and look for a different church, with a pastor who really pastors.

Today, Pastor Johnny encourages you, to consider your pastor and his family, in a different light. While it is true, that being in ministry comes with the glaring spotlight, as pastors are scrutinized more than others in the congregation - However, that same emphasis shouldn't be placed on the pastor's wife, who is not in a ministry position, or the pastor's children. Just because Dad is the pastor, doesn't mean that his wife and children are in ministry positions, and viewed with the same scrutiny.

The Bible teaches that God is a God of order. Today, Pastor Johnny is bringing a message about the order in the church. God has ordained some leadership roles, for the building up and equipping of His children. We are all children, just like we are all the sheep of Jesus' flock. But some ships have been given the gift of leadership, to lead under the headship of Christ. It's incumbent that leaders lead, not for selfish reasons, and for those who are under them, to submit to God-ordained leadership.

Today, Pastor Johnny reminds you, that our God is a just God. The truth is, that God doesn't send anyone to hell. Every person born, since Adam, is destined for hell. But God so loved the world that He made away, for those who will believe. Listen! You don't have to go to hell. Jesus came and died in your place, and gave you a brand new life – an everlasting life. You can receive that most precious gift, right now! Just believe in Jesus, and He will give you a new heart, and you will become a child of God!

Each of us has an appointment, that we will keep, one day. Today, Pastor Johnny asks you, who are you devoting your life to? When the day of your appointment arrives, what will you hear from the Lord Jesus Christ? You are saved to serve a Sovereign King, not to spend your gift of days to pursue your own agenda. Think about the great price, that Father God paid for your salvation; He gave the life of His only Son for you. You no longer belong to you, but you belong to the one who bought you.

There will be people in your life who choose to walk away from you because of what you believe. If anyone knew what that felt like, it was Paul. Although he had many who supported him, he faced hard moments alone too. It would have been easy for him to decide that he was done. That he couldn’t do it anymore. But he knew and trusted in the faithfulness of God. In today’s message with Pastor Johnny, you’ll learn that though others may leave and forsake you, the Lord will never leave or forsake you.

Making plans and having goals isn’t a bad thing. In fact, most would recommend that you have a plan for your life. Most would highly suggest you set goals. As Pastor Johnny teaches today, you’ll learn that even though plans are good, you shouldn’t depend on them entirely. Sometimes you’ve got to hold your plans loosely. If you’re a follower of Jesus and trust in the Lord, you know your plans are not always His plans. The important thing, though, is that your plans align with His at the end of the day.

In today’s message, Pastor Johnny will ask you, “What was your life poured out for?” The Apostle Paul poured his life out for Jesus. Even when persecution came, he was still all in. He still preached the love of God. He still proclaimed the truth of Jesus. He poured and poured and poured. Even unto death. What is your life being poured out for? Is it for Jesus or is it for the things of the world? Is it for others or for yourself? Paul had an eternal perspective. He lived for what truly mattered: Jesus.

If we’re honest, the need to fit in didn’t stay in high school. For some reason, there’s a piece of each of us that longs to be like everyone else. But when we try to be like everyone else, we eventually become like everyone else. In today’s message, Pastor Johnny will encourage you to stand out. Not in a way that says, “Look at me.” But in a way that says, “I know who I’ve been created to be.” You see, God didn’t make you like everything else. He made you for a unique purpose.

God is a gracious and merciful God. He constantly gives chances and forgives. But at some point, God must be a God of justice. This means that although He is full of grace, that grace only reaches so far. In today’s message, Pastor Johnny will encourage you to repent and get right with God. Even though the Lord loves you deeply, He is light, and no darkness can be in Him. If you claim to be His child, darkness cannot live in you. What is your life is separating you from Jesus? Let it go.