The Commands of Christ Podcast

How might God use one praying life to awaken many? In John Hyde’s life, we see Christ’s command to “Pray for Laborers” lived out through fervent intercession, sacrificial evangelism, and deep dependence on Jesus. We are reminded that revival is often won first in the secret place, where God gives His people His own burden for souls. May we draw near to Christ, pray with holy urgency, and go gladly into His harvest field.

Are we willing to hold fast to God’s Word, even when it costs us something? We are reminded through the life of Martin Luther that true discernment begins with a heart anchored in Scripture, recognizing that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone—not by human effort. As God opened Luther’s eyes to the gospel, he was compelled to stand against false teaching, not in pride, but in obedience to the truth, trusting God above man. His courage shows us that guarding against deception requires both conviction and humility. Therefore, we commit ourselves to test all things by Scripture, to stand faithfully for truth with grace and courage, and to live in such a way that Christ—not ourselves—is exalted, trusting that as we remain grounded in Him, He will guide us in truth and use our lives for His glory. 

What does it truly mean to walk the narrow way, and are we willing to follow Christ even when it leads through suffering? We are reminded through the life of John Bunyan that the narrow way begins with entering through Christ alone—the only gate of salvation—and continues as a daily walk of obedience, fixing our eyes on Him. Though Bunyan faced imprisonment and hardship for his faithfulness, we see that God used those very trials to draw him into deeper communion and to produce lasting fruit, even through writings that continue to lead many to Christ. In this, we learn that affliction is not wasted but becomes a place where God reveals His presence and purposes more fully. Therefore, we commit ourselves to walk the narrow way with perseverance, trusting that as we remain faithful in both ease and trial, God will use our lives—however simple—for His glory and for the eternal good of others. 

What does it truly mean to love others as Christ has loved us, and how far are we willing to go to live that out? We are reminded through the life of Mary Slessor that the call to “do unto others” is a call to sacrificial love—one that moves us beyond our comfort into compassionate action for others. From a life marked by hardship, she was transformed by Christ and sent to bring His light into deep darkness, rescuing the vulnerable, living among those she served, and giving herself wholly for their good. In her surrender, we see that such love is not possible in our own strength, but through dependence on God who leads and empowers us. Therefore, we commit ourselves to follow where He leads, to serve selflessly, and to reflect His heart to others—trusting Him with the results, and seeking to make our lives a melody of His grace in both the light and the dark places. 

What does it truly mean to ask, seek, and knock? Does God still answers prayer today? How does a life devoted to prayer shape not only our hearts, but the world around us? We are reminded through the life of E.M. Bounds that prayer is not merely a duty, but a powerful communion with God through which He accomplishes His purposes. In trials, hardship, and ministry, E.M. Bounds continually turned to the Lord, showing us that persistence in prayer—fervent, believing, and unceasing—invites the moving of God, even bringing revival in the most barren places. As we see that God works not through methods but through yielded lives, we are called to become people of prayer, seeking Him early, earnestly, and continually. Join us as Gabe helps us understand the life and impact of E.M. Bounds. 

What does it mean to carry the gospel with both boldness and discernment? How can a life fully surrendered to Christ be used to reach even the hardest places and hearts? We are reminded through the life of Brother Andrew that obedience to Christ is not merely about zeal, but about walking in step with the Holy Spirit—sharing the precious Word with wisdom, timing, and love. From a life once bound in sin to one wholly yielded, we see that God delights to use those who depend on Him daily, whether in quiet moments of restraint or courageous acts of faith. As he carried the “pearl” of Scripture to those who longed for it, trusting God to open doors and blind opposing eyes, we are stirred to treasure that same Word and to share it faithfully. Therefore, we commit ourselves to live in daily obedience, seeking the Spirit’s leading in every interaction, and trusting that as we follow Christ, He will guide us to bring His truth to a world in need—boldly, wisely, and for His glory. Join Gabe as he shares the exciting story of Brother Andrew.

Do we respond to hardship with bitterness or with faith? George Washington Carver’s life shows us that when we seek the Creator for wisdom, He guides both our character and our calling. Born into slavery, Carver chose love over resentment, asking “the God who made the peanut” to reveal its purpose and using his discoveries to bless a broken South. In him we see that when we are born again (John 3:3), our work becomes worship and our lives become channels of healing grace.

What does it look like to seek God’s kingdom first when the cost is real? Can we trust Christ with everything we love most? In John and Betty Stam, we see hearts wholly surrendered to Jesus, letting go of “little trinkets” for God’s treasures, learning to depend on Him for daily needs, and choosing obedience over comfort. Sent to China, they loved even their enemies, faced captivity with peace, and confessed, “May God be glorified whether by life or by death.” Beheaded in 1934, they still bore witness that to die is gain (Phil. 1:21), and their sacrifice became a seed that stirred many to missions and reminded us that the Great Commission was never meant to be easy, only worth it in Christ.

What does it look like to say “no” to self and “yes” to Jesus in real life? In William Borden’s short, bright life we see Christ’s call to lay up treasures in heaven: though wealthy, admired, and full of opportunity, he chose surrender, loved the overlooked, poured himself into gospel work, and gave generously for missions. Setting his heart on reaching the unreached, he left comfort for Egypt to prepare for ministry to Muslims in China. Though he died at the age of 25 his legacy still preaches that a life yielded to Christ is never wasted. 

In Oswald Chambers we see a life of unconditional surrender—saved under Spurgeon’s preaching, yielded beyond his own plans, and shaped by long, hidden hours with God that fueled his public usefulness. Whether giving freely, fasting against the body’s demands, or crawling into a lifeboat on a crowded wartime ship just to pray uninterrupted, he practiced the quiet disciplines that Christ rewards. Serving soldiers in Egypt, he spent himself for others even to the end, and through “Biddy’s” faithful recording of his words, God has continued to call generations to “my utmost for His highest”—a reminder that the depth of our private communion with Jesus shapes the breadth of our witness in the world.