Walking In Truth

Do you remember the joyous feeling of being chosen for a team on the playground or the shame of being rejected? When you are selected, you feel wanted and capable and that brought contentment and safety. How much more does it build you up to know that God chooses you? You’ll discover today with Pastor Johnny that He chose, before the foundations of the earth were laid, to love you, forgive you and use you for His kingdom purposes! He calls you to follow Him, to know Him and trust Him.

Jesus never broke God’s law, in fact He fulfilled each one to completion. But He did break man’s empty traditions, again and again. He came to do a new work in and among God’s people. He clearly explains that HE is our Sabbath rest. Sabbath isn’t found in a specific day but in a specific person – Jesus. Pastor Johnny will challenge you today to be diligent to enter into the rest Jesus offers. Don’t continue in unbelief or wander in busyness, but come in humility to Jesus, who will give you rest for your soul.

If you’re fighting someone in hand-to-hand combat, you’ll use a different weapon than if the enemy was far away. The most useful tool for a nearby opponent is something that will be effective and cut in close quarters. So as Pastor Johnny talks about the armor of God today, he mentions a few offensive weapons that are more powerful than you might think. Prayer and the Word of God are a force to be reckoned with. Are you sharpening these two weapons so you’re prepared to fight?

How strange it would be to see football players tackling one another without any of their gear that protects them from serious injury. There’s a reason why these players wear a helmet and shoulder pads, shielding their body from bruises and more severe wounds. Your body is limited in its ability to withstand physical assault, which is why you protect it. Your spiritual life needs that safeguard too and Pastor Johnny reminds you today to be fully clothed with the armor of God to defend you.

Steel armor is meant to protect. When you picture a knight, he is covered from head to toe to protect his body against whatever comes against him. If he wasn’t wearing this armor, it would be foolish to go out against the coming army. In today’s teaching, Pastor Johnny explains how essential it is to be covered with God’s armor that protects you against a strong spiritual adversary, the devil. This enemy’ll try to convince you he’s your friend and knows what’s best, but wearing your armor deflects these lies.

God intended the Sabbath to be a blessing to man. He created and rested in order to enjoy fellowship with His creation. However, after thousands of regulations and loopholes, the Sabbath had become an incredible burden for God’s people. Today, Pastor Johnny will remind you that it’s too easy to turn what God intends to be a blessing into a burden in your life. His will and His way are for your growth, your faith and your joy. Simply rest in who Jesus is, what He’s done for you and what He equips you for.

The Pharisees found fault in others based on their man-made traditions, not according to what God had actually required. They made their regulations and oral tradition a higher priority than God’s Word. They warped and twisted the Sabbath into something it was never meant to be. Today, Pastor Johnny will explain the blessing God intended the Sabbath to be and how the religious leaders had ruined it in their religion. God blessed the Sabbath and set it apart and gave it to mankind so you could enjoy Him and rest in Him.

When you’re faced with a decision, who guides the outcome of that decision? Is it you? Your parents? Maybe your spouse? Perhaps it’s a counselor. Of course, there’s a benefit to asking other people for advice about big decisions in life, but how often do you ask God what He thinks? Today, Pastor Johnny looks to the example of Moses and how he leaned into His relationship with God to help guide him each step of the way. Would you rather go where God leads you than go anywhere else?

Say you’re in a relationship with someone and the more you get to know them, the more you understand what makes them tick. There’s an intimate knowledge that comes with a relationship you’re invested in. So how well do you know or interact with God on a regular basis? Pastor Johnny teaches today on the value and importance of connecting with God in a way that expresses your desire to know Him better. No matter your age, you can always strengthen your relationship with God!

If you’re surrounded by a pile of dirty laundry, you don’t necessarily want to stay in that space where the strong stench of dirt or body odor resides. Instead, you would rather be around a pile of clean laundry that smells fragrant with a fresh and new scent, free from the previous stain or odor. In today’s message, Pastor Johnny refers to God’s presence in a similar way. God is willing to display His glory, but He won’t allow His glory to shine when sin is the ruling stain in your heart and in your life.

The Pharisees and the old system of religion were rigid and stubborn. They were too rigid to accept Jesus as the fulfillment of all prophecy and scripture. Jesus couldn’t be contained in their old, flawed, man-made system. Pastor Johnny will help you see today that Jesus came to make all men new. He didn’t come to patch you up here and there in your way of life. He wants you to let go of all the old, sinful things, and turn completely to Him. Keep your heart soft and pliable so you can accept Jesus’ life- changing message.

There are many people who deeply love money. Money guides decisions, hopes and priorities. However, the love of money is a sin. Pastor Johnny will challenge you today to examine how attached you are to your riches. Are you willing, like Levi- turned Matthew, to walk away from your wealth, lifestyle, and comfort to follow Jesus if He asked? Levi left everything that hindered him from a relationship with the true and living God. He saw the life that Jesus offered and made the choice to give it up to follow Him.

What does it take to live outside of fear? You have to remind yourself of truth rather than giving in to lies. Many people in history could’ve given in to fear. If they had, they wouldn’t have accomplished nearly as much or made the difference they are known for. In today’s teaching, Pastor Johnny asks you to allow faith to be contagious in your life. Don’t let the fear that’s crippling so many to spread faster than any disease could. Instead, activate your faith to multiply and spread to others.

If you’re relying on the media to hold you up or to help you feel secure right now, it won’t. So much of what you’re hearing is either inaccurate or hyped up to cause people to run in panic. Today, Pastor Johnny speaks of a different reaction you can have instead. If you know and believe in God and His love for you, then any uncertainty can be cast aside because of the faith that fills you. God does not make empty promises. He’s faithful to care for you and He cares about what you’re going through.

There are certain things that you should be afraid of…the power of electricity, the devastation that fire can bring, or the incredible force that water is when it’s on a destructive path. But there are plenty of things you don’t need to be afraid of. Some of the things you’re experiencing now aren’t things that should cause you to panic that leads to hopelessness. Pastor Johnny encourages you today to fear God. This kind of fear isn’t something you should be running away from, but rather, running to.

There was a crowd. The way was difficult, and yet, the deep spiritual and physical needs didn’t go away. The friends of the paralyzed man in this passage today were moved by compassion and concern to care for their friend and that led them to action. They had faith enough to persevere through the difficulties to seek Jesus. Today, Pastor Johnny will encourage you to allow your faith in Jesus to motivate you to action, despite trouble you may experience. Be willing to do whatever you can to bring others to Jesus!

Often when you feel a lack of spiritual power or peace, it’s usually due to a dismal prayer life and lack of time in God’s Word. He simply won’t meet you if you refuse to come to Him earnestly and in need. The power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal because He stayed connected to His Father through prayer and scripture. Pastor Johnny will remind you today that the power of the Lord is still present to heal and do miracles. You too can experience the incredible power of the Holy Spirit in your life through faith and time with God!

Do you feel like you just don’t have time or opportunity to pray? Sometimes, distractions overtake you and you give up praying. Satan uses these excuses, among many others to keep you from prayer. Today, Pastor Johnny will encourage you to imitate Jesus, the ultimate example, in your prayer life. He never let busyness, weariness, or distraction keep Him from prayer. It was the key to the power of His life and ministry. And it is for you today too. It is your spiritual lifeline. Don’t let anything keep you from time with God in prayer!

Knowing something can be different than believing it. You might know about other religions or philosophies, but that doesn’t mean that you buy into everything about them. Of course, being a follower of God is the same way. You might know everything about God, but do you believe in what He’s done for you? When push comes to shove, would you stand up for Him, even if it cost you your life? Today, Pastor Johnny connects God’s faithfulness and mercy to your obedient choice to follow Him!

How do you respond when things in life get stormy – such as right now, during this global pandemic? Maybe you’re one who jumps-ship and tries to get away from the hard things in life. Or do you stay your ground and fight for what you care about? Do you get bitter or resentful of the things that are happening to you and then feel sorry for yourself? Whatever your natural response is, Pastor Johnny reminds you today that a life lived for God can show thankfulness, even when things are tough. Is He worth the cost?