An Accountable Christian

rwh3may Ep.362 – Run With Horses Podcast – Accountability

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Author pages with links to all books on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BCSDDVLB – James Norman Smith

https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BMGW51FW – Susan Jane Smith

**(24:00)**

Do you find it difficult to stay on track and actually do the things you know you should do? Is consistency in exercise, healthy eating, regular prayer and daily time with God a problem for you? If so, you may benefit from seeking healthy, ongoing accountability as part of your spiritual journey toward Christ-likeness.

Welcome to Run With Horses! My name is Norman and my goal is to help you thrive as a follower of Jesus. The spiritual life is simple in many ways, but potentially the most difficult part of your life. God invites you to grow, to live intentionally and to join in His mission. It’s very cool that we can do that together!

Thank you for joining me today! “If you’re new here, you can check out past episodes at runwithhorses.net. As always, I appreciate your feedback, questions, and reviews!”

**(23:00 – 0:00)* * PART 1

Shout out to Radio Stations!

 

When the topic is accountability many people instantly run for the hills, fearing an heavy overbearing hand forcing them to do things they don’t want to do and hating every minute of it. Let me ease your mind, that is not Biblical accountability!

Biblical Accountability is a key tool in the life of a follower of Jesus who is seeking to grow spiritually and live according to biblical principles. It is something you invite into your relationships with other growing disciple of Jesus. We are on the same path and can help each other as we go. It’s not force, it’s mutual cooperation to intentionally move in the direction God is showing us.

1. Accountability to God

As followers of Jesus, we are ultimately accountable to God for how we live our lives. Every believer must recognize that their actions, thoughts, and behaviors are under God's authority.

• Romans 14:12

• 2 Corinthians 5:10

2. Accountability to Fellow Believers

The Bible also teaches that believers should be accountable to one another. We are not meant to walk the Christian life alone. God designed the church as a community where believers help one another grow spiritually.

• Galatians 6:1-2

• James 5:16

3. Mutual Accountability in Spiritual Growth

Spiritual growth requires intentionality, and part of that is having people in our lives who can help hold us accountable in our pursuit of holiness and spiritual maturity.

• Hebrews 10:24-25

• Proverbs 27:17

4. Examples of Accountability in the Bible

• Nathan and David: A powerful example of accountability can be seen in the relationship between the prophet Nathan and King David. After David's sin with Bathsheba, God sent Nathan to confront David about his sin. Nathan’s courage to hold David accountable ultimately led to David’s repentance and restoration (2 Samuel 12:1-14). This example highlights how accountability often involves speaking the truth in love, even when it's difficult.

• Paul and Peter: The apostle Paul held Peter accountable in Galatians 2:11-14, when Peter’s actions were inconsistent with the gospel. Peter was initially eating with Gentiles, but when certain Jewish believers arrived, he withdrew, fearing what they might think. Paul publicly confronted him, saying, “But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, ‘If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?’” (Galatians 2:14). This shows that accountability sometimes involves a public rebuke when necessary to uphold the truth of the gospel.

• Jesus and His Disciples: Jesus modeled accountability in His relationships with His disciples. He often rebuked them for their lack of faith or for misunderstanding His mission (e.g., Matthew 16:23, when He rebuked Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan!"). However, He also encouraged them to support each other, as seen in John 13:34-35, where He commanded them to love one another as He had loved them. The accountability Jesus modeled was always rooted in love and truth.

5. Personal Responsibility and the Role of the Holy Spirit

Ultimately, the Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in