DISCIPLE

by Donald Grey Barnhouse      "The perils that are to be avoided, then, in looking at life are two. The first peril to avoid is that of thinking that the man of refined nature who picks out the dry spots along the swampy road to Hell is really on the road to Heaven because his life is so much better than that of the man who wallows in all the filth to Hell. The second peril to avoid is that of thinking that the man who professes to believe, who turns aside at one of Satan's many imitation gates, but yet goes on his life way wallowing in sin, has really passed through the real gate of Christ. In other words, there is a counterfeit road for the one who refuses Christ, and there is a counterfeit gate for the mere religious professor who does not truly possess new life in Christ..."      "...I wish to add to that preaching an increasing emphasis on the necessity of giving diligence to make our calling and election sure by a constant walking...

  by Steve Hulshizer “In the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom knew not God...”  1 Cor. 1:21 If we were to attempt to discuss all of this world’s philosophies it would obviously be an extremely large task. Not only is there a great number of ideas and opinions, but man’s thinking also runs to different extremes. For example, on one hand there is the atheist who declares “there is no God” (Psa. 14:1). At the other extreme is pantheism with its belief that God is in everything and everyone. The universe is God. (Deut. 6:4).     "They shall not know, neither see, till we come among them, and slay them..."   Nehemiah 4:11     Quite frankly my primary concern is not with the philosophies of the world. It is rather with the wisdom of man that I see slipping into the assemblies today. Just as Nehemiah’s enemies planned to slip in unawares, so too worldly philosophies are coming into Christianity and into the assemblies undetected by ...

by Dave Hunt The evangelical church today is being seduced as never in its history. It faces a danger so grave that, although we have discussed this problem before, it must be addressed again with new insight and vigor. If evangelicals succumb to the seduction (as they increasingly are doing), then their gospel witness will be submerged in confusion and could eventually be lost—a tragic and new dimension to the apostasy from which the church and the world will never recover. Most astonishing and alarming is the fact that (with few exceptions) evangelical leaders and even the major cult watchers refuse to acknowledge this threat. We are therefore compelled to address the subject once again with renewed concern.   An Incredible Partnership      For decades evangelicals have diligently and faithfully attempted to identify, analyze and warn the church against cults. Included in the standard list are Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Christian Science, Unity ...

by Dave Hunt The most significant event in almost 500 years of church history took place March 29, 1994. Leading evangelicals and Catholics signed a joint declaration, "Evangelicals and Catholics Together: The Christian Mission in the 3rd Millennium." The document overturns the Reformation and does incalculable damage to the cause of Christ. The news release said: They toiled together in the movements against abortion and pornography, and now leading Catholics and evangelicals are asking their flocks for a remarkable leap of faith: to finally accept each other as Christians...[E]vangelicals including Pat Robertson and Charles Colson joined with conservative Roman Catholic leaders today in upholding the ties of faith that bind [them]....They urged Catholics and evangelicals...to stop aggressive proselytization of each other's flocks. John White , president of Geneva College and former president of the National Association of Evangelicals...

by G. D. Watson (1845-1924) If God has called you to be like Jesus Christ, He will draw you into a life of crucifixion and humility, and put upon you such demands of obedience, that you will not be able to follow other people, or measure yourself by other professing Christians, and in many ways He will seem to let other people do things which He will not let you do.      Other Christians and ministers who seem very religious and useful, may push themselves, pull wires, and work schemes to carry out their plans, but you cannot do it, and if you attempt it, you will meet with such failure and rebuke from the Lord as to make you sorely penitent.       Others may boast of themselves, of their work, of their successes, of their writings, but the Holy Spirit will not allow you to do any such thing, and if you begin it, He will lead you into some deep mortification that will make you despise yourself and all your good ...

by A. W. Tozer AMONG REVIVAL MINDED Christians I have heard the saying, "Revivals are born after midnight."       This is one of those proverbs which, while not quite literally true, yet points to something very true. If we understand the saying to mean that God does not hear our prayer for revival made in the daytime, it is of course not true. If we take it to mean that prayer offered when we are tired and worn-out has greater power than prayer made when we are rested and fresh, again it is not true. God would need to be very austere indeed to require us to turn our prayer into penance, or to enjoy seeing us punish ourselves by intercession. Traces of such ascetical (self-denying) notions are still found among some gospel Christians, and while these brethren are to be commended for their zeal, they are not to be excused for unconsciously attributing to God a streak of sadism unworthy of fallen men. Yet there is considerable truth in the ...

by William MacDonald Tolerance can be a virtue, but it can also betray an inexcusable weakness of character. We admire the person who tolerates differences where no great issue is at stake. He allows for a variety of preferences, methods, and unimportant viewpoints. He would rather be killed for a sheep than for a lamb.       But there is another form of tolerance that is despicable. That is the willingness to remain silent when God's name is blasphemed or Christ is dishonored. It is the treachery of silence when truth is on the scaffold. It is the unwillingness to speak out against evil. Tolerance that condones deceit and unrighteousness is sin.       Those who think that Jesus was always tolerant should read Matthew 23, a denunciation of hypocrisy. This passage proves forever that our Lord was capable of scathing indignation at the pretense of religious leaders. Or they should read Revelation 2:20, where he ...

The Kite Once upon a time a paper kite Was mounted to a wondrous height, Where, giddy with its elevation, It thus express'd self-admiration: "See how yon crowds of gazing people Admire my flight above the steeple; How would they wonder if they knew All that a kite like me can do! Were I but free, I'd take a flight, And pierce the clouds beyond their sight, But, ah! like a poor pris'ner bound, My string confines me near the ground; I'd brave the eagle's tow'ring wing, Might I but fly without a string." It tugg'd and pull'd, while thus it spoke, To break the string-at last it broke. Depriv'd at once of all its stay, In vain it try'd to soar away; Unable its own weight to bear, It flutter'd downward through the air; Unable its own course to guide, The winds soon plung'd it in the tide. Ah, foolish kite, thou hadst no wing, How coudst thou fly without a string! My heart reply'd, "O Lord, I see How much this...

“The Spirit and the Bride say – COME” – Rev. 22:17 Beloved of the Lord: A frequent question is heard from lips and hearts of many saints today; “WHEN will the Lord return?  WHEN shall we see His face?”  Perplexing and difficult circumstances may provoke this and problems that are domestic, social, political and ecclesiastical prevail.  A spiritual believer knows that the coming of the Lord is the only solution for them all.  Yet we who constitute His Bride, the Church, are we longing with bridal affection for the coming of our beloved Bridegroom?  Do bridal affections characterize us as we wait for Him to come? 1 – THE UNITED VOICES OF THE SPIRIT AND THE BRIDE – They both are to say – “COME” each expressing the longing desire for the Bridegroom's return.  The preceding Scripture of Rev. 22:16 should be noted as the basis of these words.  First, the royal relationship of Christ to Israel is declared – “I am the ROOT and OFFSPRING of David”. ...

"Ah, I will ease Me of Mine adversaries, and avenge Me of Mine enemies!" (Isa. 1:24).  Human justice is to be meted out by juries of men and by judges, uncolored by personal feelings. Not so with God! As is not the case in human courts, it is the Judge Himself who has been wronged. It is His light that has been refused for darkness.  It is His salvation , and that by His Son's blood , that has been despised.  And it will not be justice merely, but the infliction of penalty by an outraged Being whose Name is Love, now aroused to righteous fury commensurate with the measureless guilt of the hideous haters of His holiness, the despisers of His mercy – it will be by the Hand of the Judge of all, Himself , that wrath will fall upon the guilty.      As for the "great" pulpiteers of Christendom, the favorites of the rapidly apostatizing denominations of this day, the men who, by their ecclesiastical politics or personal ability, of so-called "scholarship,...

Our Lord Still Demands New Testament Standards     A. W. Tozer “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:10). Not the naked Word only but the character of the witness determines the quality of the Christian convert.  The church can do no more than transplant herself. What she is in one land she will be in another.  A crab apple does not become a Grimes Golden by being carried from one country to another.     God has written His law deep into all life; everything must bring forth after its kind!     It would appear logical that a subnormal, powerless church would not engage in missionary activity, but again the facts contradict the theory.  Christian groups that have long ago lost every trace of moral fire nevertheless continue to grow at home and reproduce themselves in other lands.     There is a weaknes...

by Martin Bobgan   Throughout church history the Bible has been sufficient to minister to the personal and interpersonal problems of living without resorting to the very wisdom of man about which God warns His people (1 Cor. 2:5, etc.). How did the church move from the comfort and confidence in the Word of God and the work of the Holy Spirit in the fellowship of the saints to its current condition where solutions to the issues of life are found in the unbiblical evil speaking (Eph. 4:31) that takes place in problem-centered counseling and in the public undressing of private lives? In attempting to provide something better than the world, Christians nevertheless followed the problem-centeredness of worldly counseling along with its sinful speaking. Not only have these Christians opened Pandora’s Box, but apparently they believe that its evil contents of exposing the sins and failures of others are necessary in the process of helping people who are suffering from the trials o...