The Mark of True Discipleship: Love

6/19/2025

“If you love Me, keep My commands.” John 14:15 (NIV)

Jesus said in John 13:35, “By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” In other words, the most authentic proof that you belong to Jesus is not your ability to prophesy, heal, cast out demons, or speak in tongues. As powerful and beautiful as those manifestations are, they are not the evidence of discipleship. Love is. 1 Corinthians 13:2 (AMP) says: “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.”

This means that the root of a consistent life of power is love. Yes, it is possible to occasionally walk in spiritual gifts and manifestations without love but it is impossible to walk in them continually and authentically without love. In God's eyes, prophecy, tongues, deliverance, and miracles mean nothing if they don’t flow from a heart of love. Jesus made this sobering statement in Matthew 7:22–23: “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, drive out demons, and perform many miracles?’ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness.’”

These were people with impressive spiritual résumés—but they lacked the one thing that mattered: love. 1 John 4:20 brings this home:

“Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother or sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.” And 1 John 3:15 adds: “Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.”

God takes love seriously, very seriously. So no matter what others have said about you, or done to you, you have a divine duty to walk in love. You are the light of the world. And light cannot afford to act like darkness, no matter how justified it may feel.Yes, people will be rude.Yes, people will misunderstand or mistreat you.But you must still shine.And the fuel for that shine is love. “Pastor, you don’t know what they said about me…”Beloved, it doesn’t matter. The issue is not what they did, it’s how you respond. The enemy is threatened by what God is doing in your life. His only option is to distract you, to get you so offended that you stop growing, praying, or moving forward. But you must not give him that ground.

Stay focused on grace. Stay rooted in God’s Word. Keep your heart clean. And most importantly, keep walking in love. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)

How do you submit to God? By obeying His command to love.

Faith-Filled Confession:

I am born of love because I am born of God. I do not struggle to love like Jesus loved, it flows from the depth of my spirit. And if anyone has offended me, I forgive them freely, fully, and forever. Amen.

Testimony Sunday Prayer Points

1. Fulfillment of the Prophetic Word

Pray that nothing will hinder the brethren from walking in the fullness of the Word of Prophecy spoken over this month. Declare that they are daily led by the Spirit, quick to obey the Word, and empowered to live in its manifestation.

Scriptures: Psalm 126:1–2; Ephesians 1:6

Declarations:

• The Word of the Lord runs swiftly and is glorified in our lives.

• We are accepted in the Beloved and favored everywhere we go.

• This is the month of supernatural manifestations and undeniable testimonies!

2. Steadfastness in Ministry and Purpose

Intercede for every believer to remain rooted, firm, and unshaken in their assignment. Pray that they abound in the work of the Lord and continue to shine as light in a dark world.

Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 15:58; Philippians 2:13–14; Hebrews 6:10

Declarations:

• Our brethren are steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.

• They are energized by the Spirit to fulfill divine purpose.

• Their labor is not in vain—God is their rewarder!

3. Living and Walking Testimony

Declare that supernatural doors of opportunity are opened to the brethren for greater expression of God’s grace. Pray that every hindrance is removed and that this month marks a divine shift into enlargement, breakthrough, and testimonies.

Scriptures: Isaiah 54:2–3

Declarations:

• This month, we break forth on the right and the left!

• Every limitation is broken and every obstacle is removed.

• We press forward into our testimony, into our increase, and into our divine inheritance.