Proverbs 27: 17
Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.
Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.
Brethren,
If I may have your eyes and ears for but a moment, I shall pose this question to you:
Would you wish to fight in a war all by yourself?
This is almost a ridiculous question don't you think? When we are engaged in combat and fighting our enemies, we know that we desperately need all the allies we can get. How foolish would a man be if he were to take on an entire army of 10,000 strong all on his own and have no one to rely on but his own strength. A single man who takes on this impossible challenge is surely doomed to failure.
My fellow brothers and sisters, for those of you who profess Jesus Christ to be your Lord, you are guaranteed to suffer for His sake. (Phil. 1:29) Indeed, Christ has informed us that we will be persecuted for the mere fact that we are called by Him (Matt. 10:22), whether this be a struggle against the folly of mankind, or against the spiritual forces of wickedness (Ephesians 6:12). Certainly, hard times are on their way and there is no road that we can take to avoid it.
Though these times of difficulty are sure to come, we praise God almighty who has already conquered evil and now has secured victory over His enemies! However, even though the triumph is forever the Lord's, we still fight the good fight in which we are called to participate in. For the King of Glory has yet to return and crush His enemy for good, and soon give his faithful soldiers rest. Yes, the war has been won, but never does this victory permit us to lose the battles on the way to ultimate triumph. Oh for that day when we see Christ return once again! But for now, King Jesus appoints YOU as a soldier (2 Timothy 2:3), and never does He instruct you to fight the war on your own strength.
My brothers and sisters, we have lost the true meaning of what Christ has commissioned us to do. Our requirement is to go and MAKE disciples of all nations! (Matt. 28:19) We have forgotten this essential teaching that our Lord had taught and shown us while He dwelt among men on this earth. This same important topic was proclaimed to us after He conquered the grave just before His incredible ascension into Heaven.
I am amazed at the great number of so-called evangelicals that cannot even define the true meaning "discipleship." They are unaware of the great treasure that lies within true biblical discipleship. I myself have been oblivious to discipleship all my life until the Father had placed righteous men in my path to hold me accountable.
Ah yes, "Accountability," a Christian cliche that has been tossed around for so long that we are almost unaffected whenever this word is spoken. Frequently we have stressed the great good that accountability brings to the table, but never have we acted upon this teaching that we are so quick to preach to others.
Just as the apostle Paul instructs young Timothy to entrust these teachings to "faithful men," so should we impart sound doctrine on others as if lives depended on it, because they certainly do. (2 Tim. 2:2) Yet for the new believer, or one who's faith lacks maturity, I implore you to seek out good counsel from an older believer(of the same sex) whom you respect and will surely guide you on to the correct path whenever you stray from it.
Hear me faithful followers of Christ! Your spiritual well-being depends on it. This could be the difference between the Christian who's security is in Christ Jesus our Lord, and the apostate who turns his back on God and walks away from the faith. Opposition will come, and you can either face the enemy alone or find refuge in the company of mature believers.
I have seen the fruits of discipleship and it has truly changed my life. How else do you think the teachings of our great Lord have been passed down through the generations? How does one expect to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ without being passed the teachings of those who came before us. Looking to those who have fought the good fight before us is indeed a necessity for the child of God. We must seek out the knowledge of the wise.
But if, in your mind, you are thinking, "The Lord is on my side, that is all I need," then you are fooling yourself. God has instructed you to seek out help from the church and He has created us as relational beings. We were not created and purposed to live alone. You need to realize that...
YOU NEED HELP.
Remove your pride. Yes, your pride. Oh how foolish are the proud and the stubborn! Pride will surely be(and has been) the downfall of many. It will be the death of those who refuse to abandon their sin and follow wholeheartedly after Christ.
Father help us when we refuse to listen, we beg you to turn our hearts of stone into hearts of flesh!
We must see discipleship for what it truly is!
When a student is persecuted by his Atheist teacher, who will train him to contend for the faith? When someone is struggling with sexual sin, who will encourage him to persevere to righteousness? When an employee in the office is fired for sharing the Gospel, who will help him with his needs and pray? When a father loses his child in a terrible car accident, who will remind him of the Sovereignty of God?
Discipleship is crucial.
The relationship that we have with those we disciple, and those who disciple us, truly is a relationship that cannot be broken by this world. For it is a bond amongst men and women that has the foundation built upon Christ. And we know that when we lean on fellow believers and stand on Christ the solid rock, then surely we can take on the challenges of life and live out our purpose here as Christians. But be mindful, this happens only by the grace of God and under the power of His sovereign hand.
Beloved, tough times are here, let us not fight alone.
Galatians 6:2 "Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ."
If I may have your eyes and ears for but a moment, I shall pose this question to you:
Would you wish to fight in a war all by yourself?
This is almost a ridiculous question don't you think? When we are engaged in combat and fighting our enemies, we know that we desperately need all the allies we can get. How foolish would a man be if he were to take on an entire army of 10,000 strong all on his own and have no one to rely on but his own strength. A single man who takes on this impossible challenge is surely doomed to failure.
My fellow brothers and sisters, for those of you who profess Jesus Christ to be your Lord, you are guaranteed to suffer for His sake. (Phil. 1:29) Indeed, Christ has informed us that we will be persecuted for the mere fact that we are called by Him (Matt. 10:22), whether this be a struggle against the folly of mankind, or against the spiritual forces of wickedness (Ephesians 6:12). Certainly, hard times are on their way and there is no road that we can take to avoid it.
Though these times of difficulty are sure to come, we praise God almighty who has already conquered evil and now has secured victory over His enemies! However, even though the triumph is forever the Lord's, we still fight the good fight in which we are called to participate in. For the King of Glory has yet to return and crush His enemy for good, and soon give his faithful soldiers rest. Yes, the war has been won, but never does this victory permit us to lose the battles on the way to ultimate triumph. Oh for that day when we see Christ return once again! But for now, King Jesus appoints YOU as a soldier (2 Timothy 2:3), and never does He instruct you to fight the war on your own strength.
My brothers and sisters, we have lost the true meaning of what Christ has commissioned us to do. Our requirement is to go and MAKE disciples of all nations! (Matt. 28:19) We have forgotten this essential teaching that our Lord had taught and shown us while He dwelt among men on this earth. This same important topic was proclaimed to us after He conquered the grave just before His incredible ascension into Heaven.
I am amazed at the great number of so-called evangelicals that cannot even define the true meaning "discipleship." They are unaware of the great treasure that lies within true biblical discipleship. I myself have been oblivious to discipleship all my life until the Father had placed righteous men in my path to hold me accountable.
Ah yes, "Accountability," a Christian cliche that has been tossed around for so long that we are almost unaffected whenever this word is spoken. Frequently we have stressed the great good that accountability brings to the table, but never have we acted upon this teaching that we are so quick to preach to others.
Just as the apostle Paul instructs young Timothy to entrust these teachings to "faithful men," so should we impart sound doctrine on others as if lives depended on it, because they certainly do. (2 Tim. 2:2) Yet for the new believer, or one who's faith lacks maturity, I implore you to seek out good counsel from an older believer(of the same sex) whom you respect and will surely guide you on to the correct path whenever you stray from it.
Hear me faithful followers of Christ! Your spiritual well-being depends on it. This could be the difference between the Christian who's security is in Christ Jesus our Lord, and the apostate who turns his back on God and walks away from the faith. Opposition will come, and you can either face the enemy alone or find refuge in the company of mature believers.
I have seen the fruits of discipleship and it has truly changed my life. How else do you think the teachings of our great Lord have been passed down through the generations? How does one expect to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ without being passed the teachings of those who came before us. Looking to those who have fought the good fight before us is indeed a necessity for the child of God. We must seek out the knowledge of the wise.
But if, in your mind, you are thinking, "The Lord is on my side, that is all I need," then you are fooling yourself. God has instructed you to seek out help from the church and He has created us as relational beings. We were not created and purposed to live alone. You need to realize that...
YOU NEED HELP.
Remove your pride. Yes, your pride. Oh how foolish are the proud and the stubborn! Pride will surely be(and has been) the downfall of many. It will be the death of those who refuse to abandon their sin and follow wholeheartedly after Christ.
Father help us when we refuse to listen, we beg you to turn our hearts of stone into hearts of flesh!
We must see discipleship for what it truly is!
When a student is persecuted by his Atheist teacher, who will train him to contend for the faith? When someone is struggling with sexual sin, who will encourage him to persevere to righteousness? When an employee in the office is fired for sharing the Gospel, who will help him with his needs and pray? When a father loses his child in a terrible car accident, who will remind him of the Sovereignty of God?
Discipleship is crucial.
The relationship that we have with those we disciple, and those who disciple us, truly is a relationship that cannot be broken by this world. For it is a bond amongst men and women that has the foundation built upon Christ. And we know that when we lean on fellow believers and stand on Christ the solid rock, then surely we can take on the challenges of life and live out our purpose here as Christians. But be mindful, this happens only by the grace of God and under the power of His sovereign hand.
Beloved, tough times are here, let us not fight alone.
Galatians 6:2 "Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ."
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