Walking In Truth

You’ve heard the saying, “Don’t shoot the messenger.” As a follower of Jesus, your job is to carry the message of Christ, come what-may. Anytime you’re presenting eternal, life-giving news to someone, there’s always a chance of being under heavy spiritual attack. Pastor Johnny gives an empowering teaching today about being ready and remaining humble in your service to God. God may be placing opportunities in your path for this very purpose of presenting the gospel to someone who is lost.

When it comes to your participation at church, are you a worker or a spectator? Scripture backs up this idea that the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. God wants you to be willing to work the spiritual crops to ready them for harvest. Pastor Johnny enlightens you today to realize that it’s God’s grace that enables you to do His work. So next time you’re tempted to sit back and let others do the work, get up and serve with an eager heart. Have more passion for Him than the other details of life.

When you think about the word ambassador, you might associate that term with the political powers that-be. However, Pastor Johnny draws you into an important role today for God’s kingdom. This role is being an ambassador for Christ. Pastor Johnny suggests some effective tools to implement in your daily life as a representative of Christ. Your character, conduct, and conversation are a means to display Christ to others. Instead of being afraid, proudly take heed to being God’s ambassador.

Family’s an interesting conundrum. Many families can be relationally close. But what if you’re holding too tight to family? Pastor Johnny mentions today that as important as family can be, if your family is your first love, it’s taking a place that belongs to God. What are you ultimately living for and who are you trying to please? One day, your earthly family will not factor into an interaction you’ll have with God, where He’ll hold you accountable to being faithful to Him first and foremost.

You’ve heard the term, “Easier said than done.” When the rubber meets the road, will you keep your word on something you gave a verbal promise to? Pastor Johnny doesn’t shy away from this idea today as he gives examples of areas in your life that may have a tighter grip than you realize. If God asked you to surrender the material things that are dearest to you, would you contest it? You might think it would be fairly easy to give up modern comforts, but consider if you were asked to forsake all.

When you think about following Jesus, it can be easy to focus on what it will cost you rather than what you will gain. In the long run, what you lose cannot compare with what you will gain. Today, Pastor Johnny exposes commonly chosen excuses that many people use in avoiding truly following God. In today’s passage, Jesus encounters three very different people with specific circumstances, which hindered their pursuit of Jesus. For you, what are you eager to gain for the sake of Jesus?

Do you feel that there's a sin in your life that you're simply too weak to take on? Maybe it's addiction, anger, or depression? Whatever it may be, know that by doubling down your time with Jesus, you'll gain more strength to battle it. Pastor Johnny encourages you today to consistently place Jesus in your life. Through studying His Word, praying, fasting, and simply being with Him, you'll find more encouragement, strength, and guidance than you would anywhere else. Seek and grow in Him.

Throughout the Bible, Jesus makes it clear that you're to pray and fast regularly. Spiritual warfare is real and it's through prayer and fasting that you can prepare yourself for battle. Today, Pastor Johnny challenges you to ready yourself. He teaches you that pursuing a deeper connection with Christ will result in the demons placing a bigger target on your back. This is when the real tests will begin. Ask the Holy Spirit to place the truth deep in your heart and to anchor you in God’s Will.

Many of the modern and contemporary churches have embraced the methods of emotional manipulation. Instead of placing Jesus as the focal point, they've placed big events and epic social events as their priority. In doing so, they've lost sight of what's truly significant. Today, Pastor Johnny teaches you that Jesus is all that matters. He reminds you that all things are to praise and glorify Him. Anything that strays from that is wrong. Ask yourself what role Jesus plays in your life. Is He your true God and center?

You're the one who controls how much you get to grow in the Lord. By consciously making and allowing time for Him to enter your life, you get to decide the level to which you'll mature in His ways. Today, Pastor Johnny teaches you that there's no time better-spent than the time spent with Jesus. By making yourself available to Him, you allow His Word and Will to take precedence in your life. Dedicate time to Jesus every day. Allow His influence to wash over you and all the things that you do.

By placing God as the focal point of your life, you'll find the things of this world much easier to deal with. Today, Pastor Johnny encourages you to daily set aside time to spend with God. He assures you that if you do so, you'll find much needed peace and blessings. Not only that, but by looking to Jesus every day, you'll consistently be reminded to hold Him as the center of your life. This'll allow you to grow in Him and to be a strong servant for His Kingdom. One who can bless many through His Name.

Who are you truly following? Is your life dictated by Jesus or is it dictated by the opinions and fears of the world? Pastor Johnny teaches you today to not only know of Jesus and His Word, but to be proud of it. Be a student of the Bible that radiates from the knowledge found in it. Let the goodness of God’s Word inspire and flow through you so that it might inspire and flow through others. Don't hide the greatness of Jesus, but instead, share and discuss it with others. Be a smart and respectful mouthpiece for God’s Kingdom.

What things are getting in the way of your discipleship with Christ? Why do you allow those things to pull you away from Him? Do you believe those things can offer you more? Today Pastor Johnny teaches you that nothing in this life is more important than getting right with Jesus. He's the only decision you must make that'll effect your eternity. The things of this world will be lost forever the day you die, but if you fail to choose Him, you'll find yourself in an eternity apart from Him.

Have you grasped the true relevance of the cross? Do you understand just how amazing it is that Jesus died for you and your sins? Today, Pastor Johnny reminds you of Jesus, the cross, and how important the crucifixion is. The day you were born, you became separated from God due to the sin ingrained in you. To provide a bridge back to Him, God sent His Son to the cross. Now through Jesus, God’s Kingdom is available to you once again. Accept Him into your heart and let the burden of sin be passed to Him.

Don't make the mistake of thinking that you're too little to help God. Throughout the Bible, there are many stories of seemingly irrelevant people being used by God for massive things. Pastor Johnny teaches you today that God can and will use anyone who allows Him to. By simply allowing yourself to be an available servant for God’s Kingdom, you can change people’s lives. Be a servant of Jesus. Commit some time to go and help others. Be a person that shows the characteristics of Christ to your church and community.

To serve the Lord, all you need to do is acknowledge Him and ask Him to do His works through you. Today, Pastor Johnny encourages you to be a servant . He challenges you to take time from your busy schedule and to use it to serve God’s Kingdom. Make yourself available to others in your church. Find ways to serve and bless them. Think on who Jesus is and what He's done for you and allow Him to inspire you. Though it may come at a cost of time and money the return in blessings will be two- fold.

Are you accomplishing the works that God has asked you to, or are you only concerned with fulfilling the jobs that you consider “successful”? Pastor Johnny reminds you today that God has a purpose for your life. Pursuing that purpose will bring you closer to God, provide you with fulfillment, and it will contribute to the Kingdom of Jesus. Don't allow yourself to sway from God’s Will. Find His desires for your life and ask the Holy Spirit to provide you with the strength to achieve them. Live the life you were created to live.

Has your faith in Jesus brought out the mockers? Maybe people at work have made fun of your “goody- two- shoes” ways or perhaps family members look down on your beliefs. Pastor Johnny encourages you to continue walking the good walk in spite of the mockers. He reminds you that Jesus is your King and that He's good. Be a light to His Kingdom and with time, you'll find that many of the mockers will seek out your guidance. When hard times hit them, they'll remember that you offered hope.

Demons are real and if you open yourself up to them, you'll be haunted by them. Pastor Johnny warns you today of demon possession and teaches you that it's real. Drugs, unholy sex, and meditation are all things that people purposely or accidentally have used to bring demons into their lives. As a Christian, you're protected, but also a target for the possessed. Allow the Holy Spirit to use you as a vessel to fight the demonic things in this world and be a light for the Kingdom that shines away that darkness.

Satan is here to kill, steal, and destroy. Knowing this, it's crucial to place Jesus as the authority in your life. Pastor Johnny teaches you today that Satan has nothing on Jesus. There's no equality between the two nor is there any struggle between them. Jesus has already won and the devil's only allowed a presence because Christ allows it. A day will come though, where this will no longer be the case. All who failed to follow Jesus will be cast away from His presence forever, left to an eternity in darkness and despair.