Walking in Truth

There’s nothing like having a close friend betray your trust. It’s someone you’ve shared your heart with and have confided in. And then you come to find out they’ve gone behind your back and said untrue things about you. When this happens, you’re left vulnerable in a way that causes you to become guarded about sharing anything. But what if you knew what that person would do and you still showed them kindness, right up to the moment of treason? Pastor Johnny shares Jesus’ experience today…

When your birthday’s coming, there might be some hints that clue you in to a planned party. Maybe you spot some wrapping paper, a wish list, some candles, or some cake ingredients. You have a feeling you’ll be celebrated in some way. This is how it is with the end times too. You look for the signs that point you toward a bigger event that’s happening. But Pastor Johnny mentions today that instead of fixating on all the negative events, give a laser focus to the One who will make it all right.

Taking the hard road or the road less traveled can have its negative side effects. But sometimes it’s worth the extra work to get to the greater reward. People go through all kinds of physical pain or discomfort to get to the top of Mt. Everest, but it’s unlikely that they regret doing it. In today’s teaching, Pastor Johnny reminds you that going through hard things is SO worth it in the end. There are countless examples of people in the Bible who suffered for Christ and were happy to endure it for Him!

Most people would say they wouldn’t want to know how a book ends before reading all the way through it. But what if you had the mindset of wanting to know the ultimate ending so that it made the living worthwhile? This is how you can engage with things that are predicted to happen in the future. You may not know every single detail in-between now and then. But today, Pastor Johnny wants you to be aware of things that are to come and not be afraid in the meantime. Put your fear aside and live!

How do you respond to someone when you don’t have all the answers? Do you pretend or make up a story to cover up for the fact that you don’t know? Or do you make a calculated guess? How about just being honest and saying you don’t know? If you struggle to not have all the answers, take comfort in knowing that God has the answers that you don’t. Pastor Johnny mentions today that when you’re uncertain about how to answer, look to God for help, for answers, and for that opportunity to share!

If a hurricane was heading your way, would you feel more secure if your house was up on a strong rock or if you had a nice bungalow down on the sandy beach? As ideal as a beach house might be during good weather, that’s the last place you want to be when the stormy wind and water slaps your home into a ramshackle pile. Don’t let this be the case for your life either. Pastor Johnny encourages you today to build your life on what’s solid. Jesus Christ is the lasting rock that’ll help you survive!

There’s nothing like having the perfect answer to something that you’re knowledgeable in. It’s great to have people seek you out or look to you as someone who really knows what you’re doing. But what if those people were only asking you questions to trick you into saying something you’d later regret? In today’s teaching, Pastor Johnny explores a passage that deals with skeptics looking to see Jesus stumble by His own words. Hear how Jesus handled the situation and how you can do the same!

Sometimes, it takes knowing how messy and cluttered something used to be to appreciate what’s been repaired, once it’s updated. You see the contrast between the ugliness and the pristine cleanness and it’s hard not to be amazed at the difference. Today, Pastor Johnny says that this is what it’s like in your own heart when you willingly let God take the dirt and the grime and replace it with a clean slate. You become freed from the impurities and things that want to soil your heart. What an upgrade!

How is it possible that you would read a book and would somehow have lost the plot? It almost seems like it wasn’t worth reading the book at all. But what if you were clued-in to the real message and you could honestly say, “I got it!” There’s a book that’s very clear about the plot and its climax. Spoiler alert….Pastor Johnny emphasizes today that the Bible’s one true message is that Jesus came to save and rescue those who are lost. When He came as King, the people didn’t realize and they lost out.

There’s nothing worse than trying to eat a fruit that hasn’t reached its ripeness yet. If you bite into it and it’s not quite ripe, you don’t get to experience the juicy flavor that it could offer at a later time. It’s interesting that there are moments when Jesus will relate a topic to a fruit that’s ripe. In today’s teaching, Pastor Johnny points to an instance when Jesus was sad about a situation. He likened it to eating unripe fruit. It tasted bitter and unsavory and His sadness reminds us that Jesus felt things deeply.