The Daily Word of Righteousness

An Examination of Current Teaching, #61

And when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. (Acts 11:26)

A disciple is someone who has taken "the four steps of salvation" and now attends church.

We notice above that a Christian is a disciple, according to the Bible.

How many American church members are really disciples of Jesus, waiting on His Presence and will every hour of every day? How many are listening for His every Word, praying each day, meditating in the Scriptures, gathering with fervent saints, turning aside from their own lives that they might do God's will?

How many are presenting their bodies a living sacrifice that they might prove God's will for their lives?

How many are remaining in the prison where God has placed them, waiting patiently year after year until God releases them?

How many are coveting fervently the gifts of the Spirit that they might build up the Body of Christ?

How many are ready to leave all that is familiar and follow Jesus as He leads them where they never have been?

How many have said an eternal "Yes" to the Lord so He really and truly is their personal Lord?

How many have left all of their achievements, counting them as garbage that they may know and win Christ?

How many are pressing forward toward the goal God has set before them, forgetting all that is behind, living by the power of His resurrection, experiencing the sharing of His sufferings, being conformed to His death?

These, and these alone, are the Christians. The rest are church members, good, decent people; but they are not Christians.

If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters yes, even his own life he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26,27)

In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:33)

No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. (Luke 16:13)

When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." (Luke 18:22)

Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting. (Luke 18:28-30)

As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, "That's enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you." (Acts 24:25)

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1,2)

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (I John 2:15)

We who are American Christians are, for the most part, a pitiful lot, spiritual babies, morally weak, being led about by false doctrines and seducing spirits.

Our hope is that the young people coming up will search the Scriptures, reject these weakening, demoralizing traditions, take up their personal cross, and follow the Lamb wherever He chooses to go.

If the children and youth do this, we shall see the greatest demonstration of the Presence of God and His power and glory yet to be experienced on the earth.

Let us all pray for rain, for it is the time of the harvest rain. God will not disappoint us. (from An Examination of Current Teaching)