Disciples Project Bible Studies - Page 2

WILL YOUR HOUSE STAND?

Part 3 By Their Fruit You Shall Know Them

Paul, the one many turn to for their excuse to sin, tells us in 2 Timothy 3:

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2 Timothy 3:1-7, KJV)

2 Timothy 3:1-7 can apply to anyone; no matter their gender or station in life. Or to the number of titles they have affixed to their names. And may I add that Paul says nothing about the exclusion of the apostles; prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. And we can even go a step further and include those who should be dearest to us, like our father, mother and siblings.

After all, Christ told us:

“Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.” (Matthew 10:34-36, KJV)

Yet Christ told us that there are far worse than all of those listed above.

Most of us know that not everyone who smiles in your face has your best interest at heart. But how many know the face of a deceiver. Yet time and time again, Christ instructs us not to be deceived. But are we heeding His warnings?

“And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” (Matthew 24:4-5, KJV)

“And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.” (Matthew 24:11, KJV)

The Apostle Peter told us:

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” (1 Peter 5:8, KJV)

And if the careless and unsuspecting do not take heed; they could find themselves in the jaws of the evil one and those that are his.

However, in order to avoid this we learned:

In Part 1 of this study that it is imperative that we keep God’s commandments.

In Part 2, that in order to enter into eternal life we must do the will of God and deny ourselves the passing pleasures of this world like the lust of the flesh; the lust of the eyes and the pride of life.

And in Part 3, Christ will teach us how to recognize deceivers. Especially those who tell you Parts 1 and 2 are no longer required.

And with so much at stake, it is crucial that we learn what the Word of the Living God has to say. If you agree, let us begin Part 3.

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WILL YOUR HOUSE STAND?

Part 2 The Way to Life

In Part 1 of this study, we learned of a man who came to Christ asking what he had to do to inherit eternal life and following is what Christ told him.

“And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.” (Luke 10:25-28, KJV)

So now I will ask you to consider this.

There are those who diligently strive to be the best; spending hours each day honing their skills. And there are even those who will part with their last dollar for a chance at winning a scratch off or the lottery. They are willing to sacrifice whatever it takes for the thing they want most.

- So what about you?

- Have you ever wanted anything so much that you were willing to do whatever it took to grab a hold of it?

- What would you be willing to do for eternal life?

- Would you be willing to obey the Son of God, our Savior, in order to gain everlasting life; a life free of pain, suffering, disease and death?

If so, join me in Part 2, and we will learn more of Christ’s instructions on how we can enter into eternal life.

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WILL YOUR HOUSE STAND?

Part 1 This is Love

It seems many Christians are so obsessed with their purpose driven, best life now pursuits they have lost sight, or maybe just lost interest in the words of Christ. Like Christ said so long ago, “the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.” (Mark 4:19, ESV) And as a result, it appears many are falling away, and many more are being set up for deception. And if we are not careful, we will find ourselves gathered with the tares or in line with the goats. (Matthew 13:36-40; 25:31-46, KJV) However, while there is still time, we should all take heed to what Christ said to the church of Ephesus.

“But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.” (Revelation 2:4-5, ESV)

Before the followers of Christ were known as Christians they were called disciples, which simply means pupils or students. And after His resurrection, Christ instructed His disciples to:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20, ESV)

Christ did not say go and make Christians. He said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations." And if you are a disciple, let’s hear what our Teacher, Jesus Christ, has to say.

“And seeing the multitudes, he (Christ) went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:

²And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

³Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

⁴Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

⁵Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

⁶Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

⁷Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

⁸Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

⁹Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

¹⁰Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

¹²Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” (Matthew 5:1-12, KJV)

What we have come to know as “the Sermon on the Mount,” begins in Matthew 5 and continues through Matthew 7. The above list of blessings (Beatitudes) was just the start of Christ’s teachings that day on the mountain. And Christ’s last recorded words to His disciples, before descending the mountain, were these.

“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

²⁵And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

²⁶And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

²⁷And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:24-27, KJV)

The Sermon on the Mount begins with blessings, for certain people, and ends with two choices for all to consider. And Christ leaves it up to us as to which one we will choose.

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