Who Will Forsake All to Follow Jesus and Be Stripped to the Core?

I wonder if anyone would be part of a local Church that was stripped of all the amenities to which professing Christians have become so accustomed, whether they are Baptist amenities, Pentecostal amenities, or Charismatic amenities. Who would go where there is no choir, no special singers, no great pianist, and no organist at all, but where all people were expected to worship in Spirit and in truth? Who would go where truth and truth only was preached, where Christians would be reproved, rebuked, and exhorted both when they were ready for it and when they were not? Who would go where the group is presently very small? Who would go where they would be expected to learn the basics of the Word and quickly move on to the meat of the Word?

Where are parents who are disciples that would attend a local church where they would be expected to teach and live obediently to the Word, beginning in their own home? They would be students of the Word and would train their children at home, and together with their children would be ready to sit and listen to a prophet preach when the Church gathered. In such a Church the children would not have to be sent out to children’s church or given a children’s message by the pastor and then be sent out because they couldn't sit still or understand what was going on. They would have developed ears to hear and eager hearts to learn of Jesus Christ and His Word by sitting under the teaching of their parents and their church.

The children would be taught at home first, every day and night, and they would be trained in the Bible in Bible study courses when the Church gathered. In the home and in Bible studies, they would learn the Word; they would learn to pray in the spirit and understanding; and they would learn to worship in Spirit and in truth. They would then sit and learn more when the prophet preached. They would worship corporately in Spirit and truth along with their parents and the rest of their local church body. They would learn to move in the gifts of the Spirit and, with their parents, would release the gifts and edify their brothers and sisters in Christ when they gathered for corporate meetings. All would be done to the glory of God, and all would be done decently and in order.

Unbiblical practices, such as drunkenness, being slain in the spirit, or other false manifestations would not be tolerated, but the true power of God would be present. All would be expected to grow in the character of Christ as exemplified in the fruit of the Spirit and the Beattitudes. All would be expected to move in the power of the Lord. All would be expected to be students of the Word. All would be expected to be given to prayer with their spirit and with their understanding. Parents and children would have their senses trained to discern both good and evil in the Church and in the world.

Adults and children would be taught how to minister to others about Jesus and Him crucified. They would be taught how to minister the gospel of the kingdom, which is the message the Lord Jesus ministered. They would release the gifts of the Spirit to edify the body when they gathered, and they would minister the good news of Jesus and the good news of His kingdom in the harvest fields that are white for harvest and waiting for them. The Lord would confirm their faithful ministry with accompanying signs—the sick being healed and demons being cast out of those in bondage.

There would be none of the false prosperity junk, none of the feel good and motivational junk, or any other present or future junk that the devil is trying to put in the Church, but there would be truth. There would be no “godliness for gain” in the pulpit or the congregation. People would be taught to think “the Word of God” when they hear the word “seed” instead of thinking “money.” Disciples, young and old, would be trained to deny self, forsake all, unite in faith, and always follow Jesus, to be witnesses to the world but not as the world.

In this kind of local church, Christians would be expected to know both the basics and the meat of the Word. They would be expected to go out and minister the good news of Jesus and the gospel of the kingdom and come back rejoicing because of bearing fruit for the Lord and His kingdom. The young people would quickly be taught the basics of Hebrew 6:1-2 and then move on to the meat. They would never be entertained but would be taught to deny self, forsake all, and follow Jesus.

These things are by no means exhaustive but just a start. Who really wants to follow Jesus? Who really wants to say no to the man-made traditions and teachings of the Church and the ways of the world? Who wants to say yes to forsaking all to follow the Lord, live by His Word, and do all thing to glorify Christ? Who wants to be real salt and light to the glory of Jesus Christ? Who wants to go on to perfection (maturity)? Who will count the cost and pay the price? Jesus did! Will you?