The Open Word (Audio)

As a believer you will face a battle with sin until this life is over. You will begin to sin less as you grow in your faith because God is sanctifying you, but you’ll never be sinless. John challenged his readers not to sin, but knowing everyone would sin, he reminded them of the hope of the perfect advocate – Jesus. Jesus knows you’ll sin, but offered himself in your place, taking the judgement you deserved. Pastor David encourages you to recognize your own sin, confess it, but not to feel condemned by it. Press into Jesus and His forgiveness.

As a believer you won’t reach a state of sinless perfection until you see Jesus in Heaven. You are saved and forgiven the moment you believe, but you will continue to sin in your flesh. John issues a warning about how you view your sin. If you say you don’t sin now, you’re a liar and the truth isn’t in you. Pastor David challenges you today to be honest, with yourself and God, about your sin and need for a savior. John gives believers the hopeful reminder that once you confess your sins, you are forgiven.

Our relationships to each other are important to God because people will know you’re a believer by your agape love for one another. John calls his readers to engage in true, deep fellowship with other believers. And Pastor David will explain how this supreme expression of friendship will grow you as a believer and strengthen not only those friends, but also demonstrate to non-believers a godly, sacrificial love. Fellowship takes vulnerability and sacrifice, but you’ll find the joy of acceptance and help for hard times.

In a dark and sinful world, you are called to reflect the light of Jesus. But if your life is filled with sin, John says, you walk in darkness and the light of Jesus isn’t in you. Pastor David will challenge you today to think about if you are choosing the pleasures of sin over obedience to God. Because by doing that, you’re shutting out the light of the Holy Spirit. You cannot lose your salvation but you can walk around as though you’re dead. You’ll miss out on the guidance, strength, joy and power of the Holy Spirit.

There is much darkness in our world. This is nothing new – evil has existed since time began in the garden. Darkness exists when there is no light. And today, Pastor David reminds you how light drives away darkness. In fact, there is no darkness so great that even the smallest light cannot dispel it. John wrote to the believers that God is light, in Him there is no darkness. He is holy and evil cannot remain near Him. So, because of this fact, pastor David issues a challenge that you, as a child of God, can’t walk in darkness either.

How often do you seek happiness in any form hoping to fill that need for joy deep in your soul? Pastor David explains the difference between true, abiding joy and temporary, earthly happiness. Happiness will eventually run out, but joy is eternal. People try to fill the void in their soul with meaningless moments of pleasure, but this false joy disappears when life gets difficult. When you have the joy of the Lord, you can rejoice, even when persecuted. The Holy Spirit will fill you with all joy as you walk in fellowship with God.

How can you rejoice when persecuted? When life wrecks you, is it possible to still feel joy within your soul? Absolutely. Today, Pastor David explains the joy you can experience when you walk in the fellowship and truth of the Lord. Without the joy God gives you by the Spirit inside you, you’d have no hope in the difficult seasons of life. Regardless of how you feel in different circumstances, you can choose joy. Rest in the strength of the Spirit and trust in God’s goodness to fill you and increase your joy.

It’s hard to completely trust second or third hand information. As the information is passed around, it can be misinterpreted, twisted by emotion or details can be forgotten altogether. Today Pastor David teaches you that the apostle John wrote as a first-hand witness, which gives validity to his writings. John’s writing carries the authority and truth to combat the false teaching coming in to the church. John discourages blind, unsupported faith. Instead, he encourages our trust in an accurate, thorough description of who Jesus was.

Have you declared that you believe in Jesus but, perhaps, still live a life far from trust and obedience to Him? Has your life been changed at all since you first believed? The apostle John writes to encourage his church to live lives that are consistent with what they believe. Pastor David will challenge you today to check for evidence in your life that proves you’re walking within the will of God. There must be changes in your life. The goal isn’t perfect behavior, but the desire to obey and repent when convicted.

John declared one of his intents in writing his letters was to strengthen believers and encourage them to cling to the whole truth of God. Otherwise, he said, people will try to deceive you. And, as Pastor David adds, it’s critical to know, trust and obey all of God’s word so that you can grow in knowledge of God and be strengthened against the attacks of the enemy. Hold tight to God’s word. Be aware of where you may stumble or are vulnerable to attack so you may stand against disbelief and heresy.