Walking In Truth

When you see a person who is physically suffering, your heart goes out to them because it’s so obvious that they’re hurting and may or may not be healed of that ailment. Suffering that’s happening within can sometimes be harder to see because it’s not always visible from the outside. Today, Pastor Johnny talks about being spiritually crippled and what to do if your heart is resisting any possibility of being restored. Believe it or not, your heart can be made brand new and you can look ahead with hope!

When you think of a tree being planted, you know that it needs water, sun, and some time to grow. As the tree grows, it might need some pruning here and there, for the tree to keep being healthy and to grow to its potential. At times, it may be low on water or might require added nutrients. After long enough time has passed and the tree is proving to be unhealthy and lacking fruit, the tree may need to be cut down, due to disease. In today’s teaching, Pastor Johnny relates your life to the tree.

Certain terms can have a bad connotation or even might be considered “taboo.” The topic discussed today is far from a “bad word,” but many people have the wrong idea about what it really means. This word is repentance and Pastor Johnny doesn’t shy away from its actual meaning. If there’s genuine repentance in your life, then there should be a marked change in behavior. When this happens, your life is able to produce fruit, just like a healthy tree produces fruit because it’s free from disease.

When you play the comparison game, it’s easy to think you’re less deserving of punishment than another. You point the finger or weigh your offense, deeming it less wicked than someone else’s deed. What if someone were to tell you that your sin was equal to that person’s and that the only thing separating these evils is God’s grace? It’s only God’s goodness that He’s rescued you out of a life that pursues sin. Pastor Johnny challenges you today to live a life that honors God and reaps the benefits.

Most places have a change in season and based on the weather, you tend to dress in a way that reflects your preparedness. What if you were to think of this time and place in history as a season? Are you ready and dressed appropriately for this season or will you be taken off-guard? Today, Pastor Johnny wants you to know the gravity of the state of things currently, but also what is promised to happen in the future. If you don’t think it’s a big deal, that’s a problem because where you’ll end up is on the line!

Initially, a character who is a villain might seem like the good guy, the likeable, peaceful guy. You later realize that he is a great deceiver and that you were duped by his trickery. Interestingly, the ideas of good and bad are innately woven into life-as-you-know-it because there is true good and evil that you can see and also that you can’t see. In today’s teaching, Pastor Johnny goes into the lies and deception that will come about when the antichrist arises and how he is received by the world.

If you don’t believe that you’re sick, you’re not typically going to take medicine. But what if your sickness was internal and the remedy required a heart change? Today, Pastor Johnny shares the perspective that Jesus had when He came to this earth to die. Jesus dove deep into taking on your sin so that you would forever be changed and be made new. No one else could have done this unimaginable act but God and it’s only because He is God that the result could make a lasting difference in your heart.

What’s your motivation for doing something? Is it to get ahead? Maybe it’s a promotion or a compliment for your effort. What is it that pushes you to go that extra mile in the things you invest in? In today’s teaching, Pastor Johnny causes you to think about what you’re doing with your life, and what you’re doing with the time you have. Is it all for you or is it for someone else? When you seek after God, He calls you to something greater than yourself and He’s entrusting you with much while you’re here.

It’s so easy to put something off because you have all day to finish that chore or complete that task. Unfortunately, all your extra time gets eaten up by other things and before you know it, that one task is left incomplete. Pastor Johnny urges you today to not put off your eternal end-point. It matters and God wants you to be part of His family. If you’re in a place where you’re not ready to accept what Jesus offers, know there are real consequences at-play for those who delay. Don’t wait until later!

If your house caught on fire and you needed to leave your house immediately, would you feel prepared? It’s worth putting some thought into what your plan would be, should something like that arise. In the same way, Pastor Johnny gives a reminder today of how important it is to be prepared for Jesus’ return. Although the time-frame is unknown, it’s far better to be prepared now than be caught off-guard, not knowing where your future lies. Keep training your mind to be looking for Jesus to return.

Giving birth is a process that starts slowly and then it ramps up with the contractions coming closer and closer together. Most mothers would say that labor is the most painful thing they’ve experienced. It’s no mistake that God relates the end times to the timing and pain of childbirth. Pastor Johnny reminds you today that God consistently warns about signs of the end times that will gradually increase as things get worse. Rather than running in fear, run to Jesus who has the answer for all of this!

If you knew every detail about your future, would you want that information or would you rather let things play out, without knowing? In today’s teaching, Pastor Johnny unpacks several passages that discuss what God has promised will happen. Although the exact timing is unknown, there’s no question that the events predicted will come to pass. Does this scare you or give you hope that God will come through and everything will happen as He says it will? Don’t wait…believe in God today!

As you read any book, you might wonder what the purpose of its message is. It’s interesting to look at the Bible because not only does it give instructions on how to live right now, but it gives you a clue of what to expect in the future. How caring and loving of God to give even some information about the past, present, and future so that you can feel a little more prepared and aware of what’s to come. Pastor Johnny encourages you today to not let prophecy scare you, but to study it and be prepared!

The domino-effect is an interesting concept when it comes to greed. Something that starts small and insignificant blows up into a myriad of problems sparked by greediness. Today, Pastor Johnny provides some wisdom on greed and how it escalates into worry, anxiety, and fear. None of these are character traits most people would desire. Think of the basic necessities of animals in their habitats. They are neither coveting other animals nor fearful of God’s provision. So it should be with you.

It would be interesting to take a survey about money. How much would be ideal? What would you use it for? What are the most glamorous things you could buy? If you had unlimited means, where would you live and what would you do with your life? These are all questions that would test your character and your heart when it comes to money. If you have a fixation on desiring things that money can buy, this is indicating where your heart lies. Today, Pastor Johnny mentions a more satisfying reward.

One of the greatest climaxes of any book or movie is when the villain is destroyed or overcome. In your life, there’s a subtle villain. It’s an evil monster seeking to destroy your life, your family, your country, and even your ministry. You might wonder how this foe could be so destructive when it seems relatively harmless. Today, Pastor Johnny exposes the villain of greed. If you’re more focused on what you want instead of what you have, this message is an opportune time to reevaluate your thinking.

When you think of fears that you brush up against, fearing God is one of the best choices you can make. Pastor Johnny emboldens you today to run with perseverance toward God because if you fear Him, there’s nothing else to fear. Take a minute to think about what your fear of God might require. It may have an impact on your social life. It may cost you a job that you desired. It may sever a relationship that really mattered or it may cost you your life. Is a healthy fear of God worth it?

When faced with challenging situations, a useful strategy can be to think to yourself, “What’s the worst-case-scenario?... And then what?” It’s forcing your mind to look beyond what seems to be the worst thing and to engage with what would come afterwards. Once you do this, you might realize that the worst-case-scenario was not as bad as you once thought. Today, Pastor Johnny helps you discover that as a follower of Christ, even if your body is killed, God protects your soul for eternity.

Being fearless is an attribute that is applauded in most circles you encounter. It’s quite amazing to overcome a fear that you’ve wrestled with most of your life. But what if you are fearless of God and His power? Is that a good thing? In today’s teaching, Pastor Johnny explores what it means to have a healthy fear of God. Just like most people have a measured fear of the ocean because of its powerful waves, or a realistic fear of heights because of gravity’s ability, it’s also good to have a fear of God.

There are many examples of people in the Bible who lived a duplicitous life. God is plenty gracious and merciful, but He also brings judgment when a person is willfully living in sin. When was the last time you confronted someone, speaking the truth in love? It’s a hard thing to do, but God did not call you out of sin just to sit on the sidelines and watch someone else indulge in what is wrong. Pastor Johnny encourages you today to be an example for others to follow and to help propel them to Christ.