Even If i Walk Alone

Instructing and encouraging you to live your life as a disciple of Jesus

II Corinthians

Beware of False Teachers

by

Matthew 7:15-20

Anyone can talk a good game, but what their life produces reveals what is in their hearts. False teachers almost always live lavish lifestyles, consumed with the things of this world, and attempting to keep one foot on earth and the other in Heaven. This, of course, is not possible (Matthew 6:24; 1 John 2:15-17). What a man says is not a good indicator of who he is. It’s what his life produces for the kingdom that is a good indicator.

Beware of false teachers who attempt to drag you into their deception (Colossians 2:8). They are those who think they know Jesus, but He doesn’t know them (Matthew 7:21–23). Their teaching will leave you even worse off than they are (Matthew 23:15), and no closer to eternity in Christ.

[Read more…] about Beware of False Teachers

Stay Alert

by

Complacency is one of the biggest threats to growing deeper in our relationship with Christ. Taking our eyes off Jesus for only a moment can reap disastrous and long-lasting results. Too often we treat our faith with a casualness that belies its eternal significance. Modern evangelicalism has so watered down the gospel to cater to our individual whims and desires that we think of Christianity as a lifestyle rather than the spiritual war it is.

Man determined to stay alert and on mission by setting his focus on discipleship and ordering his priorities around prayer and discipline

Ask any soldier what happens if you get complacent in battle and they will assure you that you will wind up dead. If you want to live a life that honors Jesus, you must stay alert. This isn’t a game. It’s an ongoing battle for the destiny of your soul.

[Read more…] about Stay Alert

Can You Live for Jesus?

by

Christian persecution is on the rise across the globe. It’s not just in countries where you might expect it, like North Korea, Eritrea, and Iran, but also in places you wouldn’t, like Australia and Great Britain. Perhaps, like me, as you read the horrific accounts of kidnapping, imprisonment, torture, and murder, you contemplate whether you would stand firm for Christ in similar circumstances.

Woman asking herself can you live for Jesus as contemplates her commitment, surrender, and salvation

I think most mature believers would say they are willing to die for Christ rather than deny Him as the Savior He is. I hope that is true of all of us. Even if it is, I must question the sincerity of the claim because there is a tougher question we must answer first. You say you are ready to die for Jesus, but can you live for Jesus?

[Read more…] about Can You Live for Jesus?

Deny Yourself

by

Jesus said if anyone wants to follow Him, they must first deny themselves (Luke 9:23). What does it mean to deny yourself? It means you must deny your ego. You have been bought for a price, and your life no longer belongs to you (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). You are a slave of Jesus Christ (Romans 6:22). How could you, a slave, think more highly of yourself than anyone else (Philippians 2:3-5)?

Young man contemplating what it means to deny yourself as he seeks the discipline to surrender his priorities and live with a commitment to discipleship without fear

You don’t have the right to make your own decisions, as every choice must now align with God’s will and His Word. As slaves of Christ, we are the lowest of the low, deserving of nothing, and any good that comes our way is only by the incredible grace of our Lord and King (Ephesians 2:8-9). We are nothing, but that’s okay, because He is everything!

[Read more…] about Deny Yourself

Bad Fruit

by

The Bible uses the analogy of good and bad fruit to distinguish between what believers and nonbelievers will produce in their lives (Matthew 7:17-20). Genuine followers of Christ will produce good fruit (John 15:8). Jesus says if we abide in Him, we will produce fruit that is growing and desirable (John 15:4-5), as we cannot produce any other kind.

a crowd with raised hands at an event espousing a false gospel and generating bad fruit showing a lack of discipline and discernment for those in attendance which belies their discipleship

But for those not in Him, Jesus likens them to bad trees that can only produce bad fruit (Matthew 7:18). A bad tree doesn’t produce good fruit every now and again; it produces bad fruit every time. Sure, it might look appealing on the outside, but inside it is rotten and sour. If we consume enough of it, what do you imagine will become of our spiritual health?

[Read more…] about Bad Fruit