The Commands of Christ Podcast

Our human concept of maturity is that we start off completely dependent but that we grow into independence. However maturity in God’s kingdom comes as we grow in greater and greater levels of dependence on Christ. Growth doesn’t happen as we need Him less, but rather as we see our need for Him more. In this exploration of the command “Be Perfect”, you will be deeply encouraged as you see God’s des...

The command to “Be Perfect” can initially be confusing because we associate the word “perfect” with the idea of sinless perfection. However “perfect” here has the idea of growing, maturing, and becoming complete. Join Nate and Gabe as they expound on God’s desire that we as His children would grow and mature becoming channels of His perfect love to others. In this exploration of the command “Be Pe...

In this special guest episode, you will be both convicted as you listen to how easily bitterness infects our lives, and you will be encouraged as you hear that the diagnosis has a cure. God desires to set us free from bitterness toward Him and other people. Bitterness is one of the most effective traps of the enemy. If allowed to take root in our lives, it will trouble us, defile others, and hinde...

Romans 12:21 says, “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” This is what loving our enemies is doing - overcoming evil with good! Listen as Nate and Gabe share on the rewards God has for us as we obey Him in this way. What does love look like? What is love? A better question is, who is love? Love isn’t a thing we are to try to do. Love is a Person: Jesus Christ. When Jesus’ life fil...

In order to love our enemies, we need a correct perspective of what love really is. So much of what we’ve understood love to be is actually selfish - what can we get out of it? But the love that comes from God is selfless! Join Nate and Gabe as they discuss how to cultivate a love for our enemies. What does love look like? What is love? A better question is, who is love? Love isn’t a thing we are...

Is there anyone in your life who you’ve given yourself an excuse to not love? When Jesus said, “love your enemies”, He didn’t give us an exception clause. Join Nate and Gabe as they discuss how God’s call to love our enemies is not a matter of feelings, but a matter of obedience. What does love look like? What is love? A better question is, who is love? Love isn’t a thing we are to try to do. Love...

Jesus’ command to “love your enemies” is not a suggestion. However, loving an enemy is impossible…for us. If we surrender to the Lord, He is able to do the impossible in us. The love of God is the only love that is strong enough to love even our enemies. What does love look like? What is love? A better question is, who is love? Love isn’t a thing we are to try to do. Love is a Person: Jesus Christ...

Have you ever considered what would’ve happened if Paul and Silas had fled with all the other prisoners when the prison was shaken? Because they stayed (i.e., “went the second mile”), God was able to save the prison guard and his entire household! Going the second mile creates an opportunity for God to meet a need in the life of our enemies. As you reflect on this command, it is key to understand...

God desires to “grow us up” - His will is to mature us so that we grow beyond our natural response to offenses. One of the first steps is that we allow Him to change our mind and give us a new perspective on offenses. As we respond correctly to the tests and pressures that come, this brings maturity in our lives. As you reflect on this command, it is key to understand that God desires to use us as...

“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). We will all be offended. But offenses can become opportunities for us to turn away from our natural reactions and to receive the Lord’s response in the situation. Listen as Nate and Gabe share the dangers of reacting in our flesh - instead of overcoming evil, we become part of the evil. As you reflect on this command, it is key...

If you squeeze an orange, what should come out? Orange juice! If you “squeeze” a Christian, what should come out? The character of Christ! In this convicting episode, Nate and Gabe open up the command to “Go the Second Mile” shedding light on the life-changing application this can have on our lives. As you reflect on this command, it is key to understand that God desires to use us as channels to m...

How are we to handle situations where we’ve broken our word? And what are we to do when we are bound in a habitual pattern of breaking our word? Listen as Nate and Gabe share about God’s solution for our problem. As we keep His Word, God enables us to keep our word! In a day where deception is commonplace, consider the weight of this truth: God always keeps His word! This is part of His character...

A relationship with God touches every area of our lives! The more we walk with Him and are filled with His Word, the more we will see His truth touch our relationships, our business, etc. In this episode, Nate and Gabe talk about the value of dealing with honesty in all aspects of our lives. In a day where deception is commonplace, consider the weight of this truth: God always keeps His word! This...

All relationships are built on trust. And trust is built as a person proves himself trustworthy. When we keep our word, trust is built; when we break our word, trust is broken. In a day where deception is commonplace, consider the weight of this truth: God always keeps His word! This is part of His character and nature! God’s desire for us, as those who have God Himself living in us, is that we ac...

Oftentimes it is easy for us to belittle our words – to make excuses for not keeping our word or to justify ourselves for why we didn’t do what we said we would do. However, God calls us to a higher way of living. As Christians, we need to be as good as our word! Listen as Nate and Gabe expound on Jesus’ command in Matthew 5 to “let your yes be yes and your no be no.” In a day where deception is c...

In this riveting episode, John Van Gelderen and Gabe uncover some of Satan’s tactics in bringing temptation into our lives. To counter these attacks, they share a life changing truth God has given to overcome! You will be encouraged as you see God’s provision in Christ as “THE way of escape.” Temptation comes in different forms – there is temptation caused by the physical realm and temptation caus...

Listen as Nate and Gabe share from the example of Achan how lust plays out in our lives. In life we will be faced with things we can’t always control, but by the grace of God, we don’t have to turn our heart toward those things. If we let Him, God can train us to look away from those things to Him! This is the way of victory! Listen and be encouraged that victory in the area of lust doesn’t come f...

Galatians 6:7 says, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” One key to overcoming lust in our lives is to realize that every thought we think is a seed planted, and it will bear fruit. Join Nate and Gabe as they share how this principle is true not only a wrong thoughts but also of planting God’s Word in our hearts! Listen and be encouraged that...

Moral freedom is not a status to be obtained, it is a Person to be depended upon. And that Person’s name is Jesus! As we pursue intimacy with Jesus and are filled more and more with His Word, we will see Him increase our lives, and thus be set free from the bondage of lust! Listen and be encouraged that victory in the area of lust doesn’t come from our effort, but rather from dependence on the Lor...

Lust is a matter of the heart. This is what makes lust so serious. What we set our hearts upon determines the course of our lives. This episode will leave you with the important question: am I setting my heart on anything outside the bounds of what God has for me? Listen and be encouraged that victory in the area of lust doesn’t come from our effort, but rather from dependence on the Lord. God's w...

Proverbs 13:10 says “Only by pride cometh contention.” And James 4:6 says “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” In this conclusion of the command to Be Reconciled , Nate and Gabe share how being reconciled (as well as avoiding offenses altogether) comes down to humbling ourselves before God and allowing Him to transform every aspect of who we are. The foundation for being re...

It has been said that the eight most difficult words in the English language are, “I was wrong. Will you forgive me?” Often the cause for offense is our pride. When pursuing reconciliation with others, humility is key. Listen as Nate and Gabe share practical aspects of pursuing reconciliation. The foundation for being reconciled to our brother is realizing that God has reconciled us to Himself thr...

Often we try to deal with our offenses on our own – just between us and God. But God tells us that if we’ve caused an offense, we need to pursue the one we’ve offended to make it right. God designed us to function in harmony together. If one part of your body is out of alignment, your whole body has trouble functioning. While this is true of our physical bodies, we often forget it is true of us as...

Christ’s command to Be Reconciled reveals that an important aspect of walking rightly with God is walking rightly with our brother. The word reconcile is a financial term. It gives the picture of two accounts that are at odds and needing to come into agreement with one another. Listen as Nate and Gabe discuss the weight of this command and how it practically applies to our lives. The foundation fo...

Have you ever felt like there is a discrepancy between the God of the Old Testament and the Christ of the New Testament? This “discrepancy” is based on the wrong assumption that God did away with His Law when Christ came. Thus, we have the wrong and dangerous assumption that God has changed! Join Nate and Gabe as they talk about how the Old and New Testament are beautifully interwoven and both rev...