The Open Word (Audio)

We all, at times, will find ourselves in conditions that we wish we were not in, whether we are partakers of what is going on around us or not. Today, Pastor David will teach you that God desires to deliver you out of temptation, you only need to ask. Whatever is drawing you away from God, whether by the flesh or by the world, God’s desire is for you to be in fellowship with Him. Judgment is coming for the ungodly. God does not want anyone to perish but that all would come to repentance.

Faith in Christ is just the beginning of your Christian journey, there also needs to be a change in your life. What is the desire of your heart? As you study God’s Word, you will grow in knowledge and understanding of God’s truths. Today, Pastor David will encourage you to be diligent in studying the Bible so that you can check it against what you are being taught. Be aware that there are false teachers all around you, trying to pull you away from God and His truths. Your knowledge and understanding of God’s Word will give you confidence to know that Jesus is who He says He is.

In order to mature as a Christian you must grow in your faith and in your knowledge of God. The world offers many things that will draw you away from your devotion to God. Today, Pastor David will encourage you to be a student of God’s Word. As you draw closer to Christ and grow in godliness you will conform to His Image and the things of this world will not be as important as they once were. There is more to studying the Bible than to simply read it, you need to take what you learn and apply it to your life.

As a Christian you are called to be as much like Jesus as you can. To do this means that you must know His character and try to replicate it. Pastor David teaches you today that even the very first Christians struggled to accomplish this. The struggle against our own humanity has always and will continue to be difficult. Nonetheless through loving Jesus and letting that love influence you you can become a light to the world. Keep pushing forward to be more like Him. Show His love through kindness and service.

It's important to consistently make choices that abide to God's Will for your life. The temptation to go against Him will always be there, but realize that every time you don't choose Him you take a step away from Him. Pastor David challenges you to know God's Will for your life and more importantly to consistently abide to it. This means choosing to be holy even when it's not fun. It means going against the grain and standing up for what's right. Though it'll be difficult it'll allow you to be the best version of yourself.

It's important to realize that the life that you're living right now is not your final destination. This is not it. There's much more on the other side. Pastor David teaches you today that you're only here to serve Jesus and to help others come to know Him. As you live your life try to fully grasp this. It means that if you're in God's Will you truly have nothing else to be concerned with. It means that life can be as simple as love Jesus and share His love with others. Don't make things harder then they need to be.

God doesn't wish for you to have it easy. Instead He wishes for you to become the best version of yourself so that you can experience Him and your life in Him to its fullest. To accomplish this He'll have to challenge and push you to your spiritual limits. He'll have to make you work hard. Pastor David teaches you today that to become a great servant of the Lord you must fight to be like Him. No longer can you sit idly. It's time to not only know God's word, but to ask the Holy Spirit to help you live it out.

Correction from the Holy Spirit should be expected. If you don't feel the Holy Spirit nudging you to acknowledge the sin in your life then it's time for you to revisit your relationship with Jesus. Pastor David reminds you today that your faith should inspire in you the need to pursue holiness. If you're truly focused on God you'll begin to recognize the flaws in your life that need to be worked on. Don't let this recognition discourage you but instead ask Jesus to come alongside you and to help you become a better person.

Make no mistake, the Holy Spirit will bring challenge and trial to your life. He'll require you to re-engineer yourself from the core so that you can become the best version of you. Pastor David teaches you today that Christianity done right isn't easy. Once you've truly embraced a love for Jesus a transformation will begin. You'll realize your flaws and sinful nature, and you'll long to make yourself better. Allow the Holy Spirit to influence and guide you into becoming a better servant for the Kingdom.

It's important that you understand the difference between God's discipline and God's wrath. Pastor David teaches you today that as a child of God you can expect Him to discipline you. If you go against His Will there will likely be repercussions. Just as parents disciplines their children to help them grow, God must punish you so that you might fulfill the hopes that He has for your life. God's wrath however you do not have to fear. As His child you are freed and protected from it.