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Deep Faith Destroys • Mar 10th 1985

The Cost of the Deeper Christian Life – Why Following Jesus Changes Everything

Fellowship New Testament Organic Church

What does it truly mean to pursue the deeper Christian life? In this powerful and sobering message, Gene Edwards challenges modern ideas about Christianity and explores the hidden cost of genuinely knowing Jesus Christ.

Many believers hunger for a deeper walk with God, a more intimate relationship with Christ, and a life beyond religious routine. But according to Gene, the pursuit of Christ in the depths is not comfortable, popular, or emotionally safe. It is a path that can lead to misunderstanding, rejection, loneliness, suffering, and profound spiritual testing.

In this teaching, we discuss the difference between being merely Bible-centered and becoming truly Christ-centered. He explains why believers throughout church history who passionately pursued Jesus often faced criticism from other Christians, religious systems, and intellectual Christianity. He also explores themes such as unconditional love for God, persecution, spiritual loneliness, the “dark night of the soul,” and the painful process of spiritual transformation.

Drawing from church history, personal experience, and spiritual writers like Madame Guyon, Fenelon, and John of the Cross, this message offers a rare and honest look into the realities of deep discipleship. Rather than presenting Christianity as a path of constant emotional victory, Gene reveals how Christ often removes external supports so believers learn to love Him beyond circumstances, recognition, or feelings.

This message is especially meaningful for Christians who feel spiritually restless, hungry for deeper intimacy with Jesus, or disillusioned with superficial Christianity. It speaks directly to those seeking authentic fellowship with Christ beyond performance, religious systems, or emotional experiences.

Topics covered in this video include:

  • The danger and cost of the deeper Christian life
  • Christ-centered vs. Bible-centered Christianity
  • Spiritual suffering and persecution
  • The dark night of the spirit
  • Unconditional love for Jesus Christ
  • Loneliness in the Christian walk
  • The pursuit of intimacy with God

If you are seeking a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and want to understand the realities of spiritual growth and discipleship, this message will challenge, encourage, and profoundly impact your walk with the Lord.

 

DCLC 1985 #1 Why You Should not be Interested in the Deeper Christian Life

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Well, on that I’m going to end. I’m going to say, in one summarizing sentence, that I’ve watched many people say they were interested in knowing the Lord better, and believe it or not, the reason most of us turn around or quit where we’re while we’re ahead, quit while we’re even, or quit while we’re only slightly behind is incredible, incredibly simple. They quit because the good feeling went away.

Well, I want you to give some consideration to this. I don’t want you to go out and deliberately dig up the cross. I don’t want you to deliberately dig up pain. If the Lord’s good to you this week and you go away saying, “That was wonderful,” if He keeps on blessing you and every once in a while, oh, wouldn’t you like to be that rare Christian in church history where the Lord, the day you get saved, the day you give your life to Him in a real and meaningful way from that day of the day He died, they’re always blessed, everything is just great. Yeah, Robin, I would have liked to be that person.

I want you to start considering your commitment not to me, not to the church, not to conditions, not to a visible church or an invisible church, but your commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ and where it ends. Does it end in discouragement and despair? Then it will definitely end. Does it end when things aren’t going well? Does it end when you get hungry for a bigger home, a nicer car, and more security? How really interested are you and knowing your Lord? Will you follow Him when the good feelings go?

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