Walking In Truth

How is it possible that you would read a book and would somehow have lost the plot? It almost seems like it wasn’t worth reading the book at all. But what if you were clued-in to the real message and you could honestly say, “I got it!” There’s a book that’s very clear about the plot and its climax. Spoiler alert….Pastor Johnny emphasizes today that the Bible’s one true message is that Jesus came to save and rescue those who are lost. When He came as King, the people didn’t realize and they lost out.

There’s nothing worse than trying to eat a fruit that hasn’t reached its ripeness yet. If you bite into it and it’s not quite ripe, you don’t get to experience the juicy flavor that it could offer at a later time. It’s interesting that there are moments when Jesus will relate a topic to a fruit that’s ripe. In today’s teaching, Pastor Johnny points to an instance when Jesus was sad about a situation. He likened it to eating unripe fruit. It tasted bitter and unsavory and His sadness reminds us that Jesus felt things deeply.

If you were given all the responsibilities of a CEO as soon as you started a job, you’d feel like a fish out of water, floundering to know how to survive and manage everything. That’s why you start with a little and work your way up, increasing your responsibilities and pay along the way. As Pastor Johnny mentions today, God is the same in what He entrusts to you. He wants to see you handle the small things well and then He’ll add to that and multiply it when He sees your faithfulness.

In a competition, you have to prove what you know or what your abilities are, as they’re stacked up against opponents and others who are equally skilled. If you never showed your abilities, you could say that you’re the best Olympic swimmer, but there’s no proof until you defeat everyone else you’re up against. There’s a similarity when you’re talking about your faith. Today, Pastor Johnny reminds you that unless you show through your actions that you’ve changed, people will have a hard time believing you.

“It’s not the right time for me to do this. I’m not feeling up for it today. I don’t even know if I’m doing it right, so why even bother?” These are all excuses you could insert into lots of situations, but is it really true or are you looking for any and every reason to avoid something? In today’s teaching, Pastor Johnny gives an example of a man who could’ve made many excuses and yet, he made sure that he was in the right place at the right time to have a life-changing encounter with God.

There’s an uncomfortable feeling when you go to the eye doctor, only to find yourself unable to read those letters on the wall. It’s alarming and concerning because you know you’re missing out on something that might really matter. This is how it is for your spiritual eyesight as well. Pastor Johnny points to scripture today to help you see how important it is to have vision that’s in line with God’s and to look forward to things that are to come. This helps give you much faith in the One with the right prescription.

When it comes to grabbing hold of treasures right in front of you versus elsewhere, it’s hard not to think of Obu in the movie, “Aladdin.” He was clearly told what to get and what things he shouldn’t touch, but the temptation of treasures within his grasp was just too much. Is this how it is for you today with the treasures that are right there for-the-taking? Today, Pastor Johnny will help you see that there’s more treasure to be found, but it’s not in the temporary pleasures and riches of this world.

It’s been seen time and time again. Some famous celebrity seems to have it all. They’ve acquired multiple mansions, cars, gone on expensive vacations, and seem to have an excess of money and so-called happiness. But as it plays out, you learn that they’re quite unhappy and empty, even with everything the world views as “successful.” Today, Pastor Johnny wants you to know that there’s something more fulfilling than the things of this world and all the things you can accumulate for yourself.

If you’ve ever watched a baby open a present, you realize that they’re more interested in the box or the tissue paper than the actual gift. It’s the simple things that bring joy to a young child and Pastor Johnny wants you to understand today that God values your heart being like a child. He desires to see you live in a humble way that’s willing to forgive. God enjoys when you appreciate the things He does, without selfish expectations. Keep that childlike faith because it’s endearing and delightful.

When you’re looking to buy a car, it’s expected that the car dealer wants to get the best deal and you also want to get the best deal. So you bargain with each other about the price, trying to get the cost down to a place that’s reasonable. Now think about your prayer life. Do you do this with God? In today’s teaching, Pastor Johnny reminds you that praying to God is not a game of getting the upper-hand or the advantage. Prayer is seeking God with a heart to do and follow what He wants for you.

When someone’s putting on a show, you are drawn in by the theatrical display that leaves you mesmerized by the wonder and the magic of it all. But outside of the smoke and mirrors, that person is quite ordinary and may not seem as amazing as on stage. The question Pastor Johnny has for you today is if your prayer life is more like a show for people to see or if it’s a genuine encounter with God. Your prayer life exposes the true nature of your heart toward God. You can talk to Him whenever!

In most cases, a thief comes secretly and then is gone before you even realize what’s been taken. You might regret leaving something out that was so accessible for-the-taking. In today’s teaching, Pastor Johnny reminds you that there are multiple warnings in the Word of God about Jesus coming back for those who believe in Him. But for those who haven’t chosen Jesus as their Savior, they’ll be left behind with hearts that weren’t soft to accepting God’s gift of salvation. Don’t wait until it’s too late!

If you hold a hand grenade, it has the power to cause a lot of damage. But it’s not until you release the lever that it gets really dangerous. In a similar way, Pastor Johnny teaches today on how the Holy Spirit is currently restraining the full force of evil that can and will descend on the earth once Christians are removed. It’s not too far from reality to imagine people being happy that the absence of Christians allows them to move forward with all kinds of agendas that go against God’s best.

When you think of something affecting the entire world, the movie, “Armageddon,” comes to mind, where people in urban America as well as nomadic Nepal are equally affected by what’s going on. In today’s teaching, Pastor Johnny introduces what’s known as the “rapture,” where Jesus will come for all those who claim Him as their Savior. This event leaves people completely powerless and unable to do anything except for their decision made beforehand. Have you made a decision about Jesus?

If you see a bright, shiny car that just came on the lot, you’re drawn to the perks of what this immediate toy could bring you. It drives fast, has that “new car” smell, and is clearly the coolest car around. The payments come later and that’s not what you want to think about when you see the car right in front of you. In today’s teaching, Pastor Johnny wants you to know what you’re buying into when you fix your focus on the things of this world and what it offers. There’s a down-side of these things later on.

How great is your faith? When you think about people you care about, how much are you praying and pleading for them to know Jesus? You may not realize how powerful and effective your prayers are for family members and friends. Your faithful prayers to God could have an influence on the events in these people’s lives. Pastor Johnny encourages you today to never underestimate the impact you can have as you display your own faith in God and His power. This type of intervention could be lasting!

Imagine you were telling people this outlandish story about your past and they just thought you were crazy because it seemed so unrealistic. They might mock you or question if you were stretching the truth because the events you were talking about were so out of the ordinary and beyond the grasp of reality. Now think about if you were to tell people about what God has promised will happen going forward? Today, Pastor Johnny explains that people might think you’re crazy for what you believe.

C.S. Lewis had an amazing way of writing Scripture into his books. In “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” Lewis describes the snow melting and the trees budding as signs of Aslan’s coming return. Of course, you realize that this children’s book is not only speaking of a talking lion, but it’s relating these characters to the greatest story of all, in Jesus. Pastor Johnny provides several examples today of how the signs of Christ’s coming return are evident. Are you seeing the signs and are you ready?

Why is it that people are so drawn to end-of-the-world-themed movies and books? Most of them include a succession of natural disasters and somewhat unrealistic scenarios that compile into a large climax of disaster. Within each of us, there’s an innate sense of wanting to see good overcome all the hardship. Pastor Johnny gives many reminders today that the reality you’re living in isn’t far from these fictional stories of grand proportions. What God promises will come to pass!

Being a part of any childbirth can be an eye-opening experience. You see a person go through a series of painful contractions that only get closer together as time goes on. Things seem to get worse and worse, to the point of complete and utter agony. Thankfully with childbirth, there’s a great reward after the intense labor that you endure. There’s a reason why the down-fall of the world is related to childbirth. Today, Pastor Johnny points to the end times being like labor contractions.