Category F: Holiness & Purity (2 of 2)

The cure for anxiety: Seek God's kingdom first. When your priority is His kingdom, He takes care of your needs.

Application: What are you anxious about? Money? Health? Your kids? Stop. Pray. Seek God's kingdom first. Trust Him to provide.

4. Rejoice When Persecuted

"Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things about you falsely on account of me. Rejoice and be glad because your reward is great in heaven, for they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way."

— Matthew 5:11–12 (NET)

This is insane by worldly standards. When you're insulted, slandered, persecuted — rejoice.

Why?

1. You're in good company. The prophets were persecuted. Jesus was persecuted. If you're persecuted for righteousness, you're walking the same path.
2. Your reward is great in heaven. Persecution on earth = reward in eternity.
3. It proves your faith is real. "In fact, all who want to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Timothy 3:12 NET). If you're never persecuted, you might not actually be following Christ.

Application: When you're mocked for your faith, insulted for standing on truth, excluded for refusing to compromise — don't sulk. Don't retaliate. Rejoice. Your reward is coming.

5. Beware of False Prophets

"Watch out for false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are voracious wolves. You will recognize them by their fruit. Grapes are not gathered from thorns or figs from thistles, are they? In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree is not able to bear bad fruit, nor a bad tree to bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will recognize them by their fruit."

— Matthew 7:15–20 (NET)

False prophets are everywhere:

• Prosperity gospel preachers (promising wealth and health if you "sow a seed")
• Progressive "Christians" (affirming sin, denying core doctrines)
• Charismatic charlatans (performing fake miracles for money)

How do you recognize them? By their fruits:

• Do they teach sound doctrine? (Compare their teaching to Scripture)
• Do they live holy lives? (Or are they caught in scandal repeatedly?)
• Do they glorify Christ or themselves?
• Do they produce disciples who love Jesus, or fans who love the preacher?

Application: Who are you listening to? What preachers, teachers, podcasters, authors? Test them. Compare their teaching to Scripture. If they're false prophets, stop listening.

6. Watch and Be Ready

"Therefore stay alert, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have been alert and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."

— Matthew 24:42–44 (NET)

Jesus is returning. You don't know when.

Are you ready?

If He came back today:

• Is there unconfessed sin?
• Is there someone you haven't forgiven?
• Is there someone you've wronged and haven't made it right?
• Are you walking in obedience?

Application: Live like Jesus is coming back tomorrow. Because He might be.

7. Whoever Causes a Little One to Sin

"But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a huge millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the open sea."

— Matthew 18:6 (NET)

This is one of Jesus' harshest warnings.

Causing a child (physically or spiritually young believer) to sin — whether through abuse, false teaching, leading them into temptation — brings severe judgment.

Application:

• Parents: Are you leading your children toward Christ or toward the world?
• Teachers/Leaders: Are you teaching sound doctrine or leading people astray?
• Anyone: Are you a stumbling block to young believers?

If yes, stop immediately. The millstone warning is real.