DISCIPLE

Having spoken of the spiritual inheritance which was his and ours, he then declared his indifference to material possessions (Eph. 6:32-33). "I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel". When a man is satisfied with what he has in Christ, the comforts and luxuries and extravagancies of this world lose their charm. The antidote to covetousness and the stimulus to contentment is this; "he hat said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Heb. 13:5). Apparently, the sentiments of this hymn are based on reality; In the heart of London city, 'Mid the dwellings of the poor, These bright golden words were uttered, I have Christ! What want I more? Spoken by a lonely woman, Dying on a garret floor, Having not one earthly comfort: I have Christ! What want I more! Silver and gold and apparel were what ensnared Achan; coveting them cost him his life (Josh. 7:21). Perhaps Gehazi thought that he was being reasonable when he request...

Text: Hebrews 11:24-27     Moses renounced his association with Pharaoh and the Egyptian government. I wonder if any of us fully realize how much that decision cost him? He gave up more than most political and social hopefuls among Evangelicals have ever dreamed of. Yet, according to the logic of many professing Christians in our times, he should have stayed. After all, didn’t they need believers in politics and government? ·   He could have used his position to fight for a better life for the      Lord’s people. ·   He could have been a friend in high places. ·   He could have impeded corruption and godlessness in the      Egyptian government. ·  He could have gotten a movement started, rallying people to      clean up government.        But Moses, having thought it over, chose to suffer with the people of God. It was, accord...

Satan still tempts offering the kingdoms and glory of this world: Matthew 4:8-9  "the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world,  and the glory of them; and saith unto him,  All these things will I give thee..." But the believer disdains all that, as did his Lord, and confesses that he is a pilgrim and stranger in the world (Hebrews 11:13; 1 Peter 2:11), and is content to have Christ, desires to know Him better, and waits for his heavenly inheritance (1 Peter 1:4).   Philippians 3:8 "I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ."   I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold; I'd rather be His than have riches untold; I'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands. I'd rather be led by His nail pierced hand. Chorus: Th...

  The politicians couldn't say this truthfully! Nor the actors or the professional athletes. But never mind them. What about us? What if we had to choose? It's one thing to sing it, another to live it. 1. I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold; I'd rather be His than have riches untold; I'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands. I'd rather be led by His nail pierced hand. Chorus: Than to be the king of a vast domain Or be held in sin's dread sway. I'd rather have Jesus than anything This world affords today. 2. I'd rather have Jesus than men's applause; I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause; I'd rather have Jesus than worldwide fame. I'd rather be true to His holy name. 3. He's fairer than lilies of rarest bloom; He's sweeter than honey from out the comb; He's all that my hungering spirit needs. I'd rather have Jesus and let Him lead. by Rhea F. Miller, 1922   ...

by William MacDonald                             Spiritually we are in a shocking condition. The status of many local fellowships is bad news, and deteriorating by the minute.     It is fairly well known that there have been scandalous cases of immorality involving even elders and full-time workers. Of course this type of news never gets into the magazines; there everything is sweetness and light. But the awful truth is that some respected spiritual leaders have fallen into gross sin in recent months and the only reaction seems to have been to hush up the whole thing, lest the word get out and our reputation be impaired.     We have been arrogant, and have not rather mourned (1 Cor. 5:2).     And that isn't all. We have become materialists to the core. Supposing that gain is godliness, we have degraded ourselves to the worship of money. ...