The Open Word (Audio)

If you were told that the path you were on would be treacherous, tripping you up along the way, and that you’d probably get beaten up, would you still go? Most people would answer readily with a firm, “No!” But the path of a believing Christian was never promised to be smooth and trial-free. In fact, Pastor David confirms in his message today that those who are following after God will surely face persecution, just like Jesus did. Even though there’s suffering, there is reward in it all.

Whatever your focus or intent is set on, that’s what will consume you to the fullest. If you’re wrapped up in your possessions, you’ll just crave more of that until it devours you from within. What if you could be enamored with something in a good way? Today, Pastor David states that when your fixation is on the things of God, your perspective skews toward using your earthly possessions in ways that honor Him. Even if God’s ways are different than your own, it’s best to hand things over to Him!

When you’re willing to hear someone out, your heart becomes soft to what they have to share. In today’s passage, Pastor David speaks about a woman who already had a basic idea of God, but she was receptive to what Paul and his missionary team imparted to her. She was known for much material possession, but that wasn’t where her focus was fixed. She realized something far greater than the things she could acquire financially. She chose what would last past her riches.

As a follower of Christ, you can be sure that any path that He leads you down is going to be for your good and benefit. Today, Pastor David takes you to Acts to show you that even if God’s ways don’t make perfect sense to you, or even if He says no and shuts the door on something you wanted to do, you can always rest in knowing that He has the best in mind for you. God knows what you need and how to take care of you. Do you trust where He leads you, even if it’s not where you really want to go?

As Christians, we live to do the will of God and what He calls us to do. We know that He has promised great rewards for following Him to the end, and we get excited about the places He’ll take us. Today, Pastor David takes you to the book of Acts to show you that sometimes God shuts a door in your face that you aren’t to go down. You will be encouraged to continue to trust in God for His sovereignty, no matter how badly you want to go a different direction. Do you trust God to direct every step of your life?

As Christians, we are called to look after each other and to be like minded. As much as it is up to us, we should live at peace with everyone, especially brothers and sisters in Christ who have the same calling. Today, Pastor David takes you to Acts to show you a disagreement between two brothers in Christ, Paul and Barnabas. Paul writes about being at peace with each other throughout The New Testament, and tells believers to live in likemindedness, and concern for each other. Does that look like you and the relationships you have with the people around you?

Have you ever been in the middle of a conflict with another brother or sister in Christ? Today, you’ll be in the book of Acts with Pastor David as he shows you an example of a heated disagreement between Paul and Barnabas. You will hear what happened here, as well as what Paul says throughout his letters to the various churches about conflict and disagreements. There is nothing to gain from Christians arguing, and Paul repeatedly asks for peace and likemindedness among believers.

As Pastor David continues his teaching series through the book of Acts, he'll be exhorting you to remove anything from your life that's robbing your devotion away from the one true God. Idolatry was the main sin that caused the children of Israel severe pain and chastisement. When you worship someone or something else over God, it leads you down a destructive path of all sorts of wickedness. You can even make your career, or even your family idols! God needs to have the first place in your heart and life.

During the Earthly ministry of Jesus, some of the only people that experienced the Lords rebuke were the religious leaders and Pharisees. Reason being, they were entrusted to teach God's people the Word of God, but instead, they taught man made traditions and caused being to drift away from God. Today, Pastor David will be explaining how important it is for you to study the Word of God for yourself, so you're not solely dependent on other people to interpret the scriptures for you.

As Pastor David continues his teaching series through the book of Acts, he'll be encouraging you to learn from the Apostle Paul's example on how to preach the Gospel. Paul always purposed to know his audience and he became flexible in how to present the Good News. Some people already have a background of Christianity, and need to be exhorted to make a decision. Some don't even have a basic understanding of God, and need to be taught from the ground up. You can't preach the same way to everyone.