Power Walk Ministries

Guest (Male): Thanks for tuning in to join us on the Power Walk Ministries broadcast with Dr. Paul Cannings. Our current series is titled Steps to Spiritual Growth. In a world with many distractions like sports, entertainment, social media, and other things, how can we be focused on knowing God and fulfilling His purpose for our lives? Pastor Cannings draws clear principles for us from 1 Peter chapter 1 to challenge us to separate ourselves from the world to follow Christ. Here he is now with today's lesson, Walking in Truth.

Dr. Paul Cannings: Here is how you keep what I'm saying as a constant process of growth. In other words, this is what He does for you. When I choose to transition from the flesh to the spirit, these are the things He helps me to do. When I get there, the Bible makes more sense. But what do I need to do so that process doesn't get off track? I learned these five things in that process that I do.

Here's the first one: stay sober. Don't let life make you drunk where you're arguing with the person down the street, or thinking I got to get this thing done and somebody comes in the room and you're into the thing you're trying to get done rather than the person that you love and deal with them. Because I have a rule in my house: y'all can walk in this study any time, and I will stop and listen to what you've got to say. Because God put the family first over Bible. Genesis chapter 2 happened before church. So that's His rule, that's the way it is.

So sober-minded. Peter is the one writing that, 1 Peter chapter 1, verses 13 through 16. Why would Peter write that? All of the stuff happening around Christ's death, he wasn't sober-minded. Here's a second thing: walk in truth, don't believe lies. 2 John 4. Truth got three things to them: truth is going to have facts, history, and reality. That's why you could go to court and establish truth. What are the facts? Facts would have some actions you created in time, history, and it will bring the real situation to light.

Don't believe lies. Lies will corrupt you. Be watchful. 2 John chapter 7 through 9. 2 Thessalonians chapter 3, verses 14 through 15. You say, "Wait a minute: sober-minded, watchful. What's the difference?" Sober-minded is making sure I don't let my mind be tossed by my emotions, fears, anxieties, and frustrations, and my mind is everywhere. Being watchful is: is the information I'm getting right? So that I now can keep this sober-minded focus.

2 John verse 10 says don't bring lies into your house. They used to invite guest speakers to come into their houses because there was no hotels. In our case, it's television. In our case, it's social media. In our case, it's all these different things. If it's a lie, shut it down. Don't bring it into your house. That's how he could be trickery and crafty in deceitfulness. Sometimes I even turn news channels because they've got this whole group of people analyzing, "Why does his hands have a spot on it?" Come on, man. Tell me some news.

Why? Speculation. 2 Timothy chapter 2, verses 23 through 26. He says don't speculate, it becomes demonic. I know what you're thinking, I know what's on your mind. The Bible says that's speculation, that's why it leads to arguments. It actually says that in 2 Timothy chapter 3, verse 22 through verse 26. He says speculations lead to arguments. Speculation is not truth. Do not speculate; it leads to demonic activity.

Y'all know what speculating is, right? I believe gold is in the prayer garden. I'm going to dig it up until I find it. That's speculating. You don't see no gold, you just think it's there. Romans 16, verses 17 through 18 says this: when the word of God is creating dissension, don't be a part of it. Don't be a part when people are fighting over God's word. I'm going to give you two passages for that because God had to teach me this one years ago. Romans 16:17 through 18 and 2 Timothy chapter 2, verse 14 through 18.

God had to really grow me in that area because I am analytical. I love to get into great discussions, that's just me. That's how I grew up. I remember the part where He convicted me the worst was my brother, who is a philosopher to the bone. The Lord took him home. Philosopher to the bone was in my kitchen. He came by and says, "Paul, man, I'm in Houston, I'm coming to Texas, I'm going to make my way to Houston." We don't get to see each other that much because he's a musician and he traveled all over the place.

And he came in the kitchen and we got into this discussion. I love philosophy, so he's philosophizing and I'm going in saying, "Hey, follow that philosophy and actually you're doing so." So we're going back and forth, back and forth, and I got to the point where I'm trying to convince my brother how his philosophy is not working, and I was wrong. Even my wife says, "Why are you debating with him like that?" She walked in the kitchen. It's funny, that was the last time my brother was at my house. He passed away.

So God used that as a thing in my life because He says you start wrangling about words, you start doing these things, He says it is damaging to those who hear. Do not do it. So when the word of God becomes something we argue, fight, and just go to different ends about, the Bible says that's not spiritual. That leads to activity where Satan gets the best of us because now we're in the flesh and we want to win. We're not just trying to learn the word of God.

Actually, the contrast to that is a time I had out of town with a good friend. We're still friends today, even though we are on two different theological worlds. But we stayed up until 2:00 o'clock in the morning and we're just going back and forth. Our wives said, "Y'all got this," and we were just sitting up there talking and interacting. He says, "Cannings, I can't say that you ain't get it down, man. But I'm still over here with this." I said, "Man, you know how dangerous that is?" He said, "Yeah, yeah, yeah, but I'm still here."

And until today, we still talk and interact because God taught me. Just go back and forth in the scriptures and you're going to learn some things, he's going to learn some things, you're going to grow, he's going to grow, and it's God to bring you to the point where you could arrive at a place of agreement. God does that. You don't. That's in Romans 14 and Romans 15. We're still friends today; he called me not too long ago. "Hey man, you must be an old man by now." I said, "Who's talking? You're older than me."

These key things that must be managed, here's the last one: don't participate with evil. 2 John 10. Do not participate with evil. When you know something is wrong, do not get engaged in it. The Bible says Satan will get the best of you. Don't do it. I don't care how strong a Christian you think you are, don't do it. Now, I conclude with this. Why would Jesus take the time to constantly teach the disciples how the Pharisees, Sadducees, Zealots, rabbis, please understand how huge they are in Judaic systems of theological teaching? Huge.

He would literally look at Nicodemus and say, "Aren't you the teacher?" In other words, you know this. See, why Jesus Christ came in that time and He spent a lot of time teaching the disciples? You got to come to the truth. One of His last sermons to them, one of them is John 15. Abide in Me and I'll abide in you. Do not go in the wrong way because I'm going to cut you off and you will not bear much fruit. For apart from Me, you don't arrive at anything that's going to be productive because the word of God does not return void.

One of the last things He would say to them, you go to John 17 verse 13. He would say, "Stay with the truth, Lord," as He prayed for them. You would think His prayer would be, "Let Peter preach at Pentecost great! Let him give a great sermon!" No. God, I pray to You that You would keep them in Your truth and that they would teach this truth to others. Please understand what could corrupt your life, what could take you down a frustrating road that doesn't bring you to spiritual growth and maturity and a powerful life with Christ is one thing: when I don't have a commitment to learn the truth, live the truth, and experience the truth in the Holy Spirit.

That key thing, that's why He constantly teaches over and over again those principles. Because in the last days, there will be many false teachers. He said that word 2,000 years ago. And if you see the church is dying, why is it dying? False teachers. People have no more confidence in the church. So churches are closing at 300 and something churches per day in the United States. If you look at Europe, for a while, churches were majorly empty, closed, when people like Paul started them. Why? False doctrine.

So folks, I encourage you, you don't take it lightly because you are told and I'm told not to bring them into your house. So simple things like listening to this preacher: "Oh man, this guy ain't cracked the Bible yet. We're 20 minutes in and this is going to be a 30-minute program." Not listening anymore. Don't play with it. That's why I pick the restaurants I go to. I literally pick friends. Standard rule I gave to my sons going to college: you don't let friends pick you, you pick them. So if you just run with whoever picks you, you will be corrupted. Pick them.

So I choose pastors that I associate with. Doesn't matter what they call me, I've been called all kind of names. I always tell people, if people can come and say things about Christ, I don't stand a chance. If they could nail a perfect man to the cross, I'm going to be on the cross like 20 years ago. So I pick pastors that we could sit down and we could have conversations and this guy said, "Now, what about this person? Hey, yeah, let's check that out." We could talk back and forth. I could take position papers to make sure Living Word stays solid biblically and I can send that to professors that could examine it. "Oh, Paul, I don't agree with you on this outer darkness." I said, "Why? Let's meet and talk." Let's come to the truth. Anytime we think we are the truth, we are part of the devil.

Guest (Male): Amen, Pastor Cannings, and thank you. The Bible tells us that there will be much deception all around us, so how much more so must we commit to knowing and living by the truth, both in our individual lives and in our families? Now, if you'd like to review this series, please visit us online at powerwalkministries.org. That's powerwalkministries.org. And while you're online, would you also partner with us in sharing the gospel and encouraging believers through these teachings all around the world? Your Power Walk partner gift will especially help us with our costs to air these broadcasts each weekday.

You can contribute by calling us at 281-260-7402. That's 281-260-7402. Our mailing address is Power Walk Ministries, P.O. Box 920517, Houston, Texas, 77092. We appreciate your support. And if you live in the Houston area or you're planning a visit, please join Reverend Cannings at Living Word Fellowship Church this Sunday. For church location and service times, visit lwfellowshipchurch.org. And now remember, just as we heard, let's commit to learn, live, and experience the truth in the Holy Spirit.