Page 53 - Christ in You - The Hope of Glory

There are few Christians today who have given up all their possessions to God. I am
convinced that God would have everyone who would be a disciple of Christ to surrender all
things to Him that He might direct them in all their worldly possessions, the choice of
where they live, and how they spend their time and money. He may not tell you to dispose
of all things, yet if Scriptures provide any pattern at all in God’s dealings with those who
would be sons of God, He will require this of many. He laid this requirement on me. He
reduced my worldly possessions down to nothing. For a time He led my family and I to live
and travel in a 20 year old motorhome, and I am convinced that had the rest of my family
stayed the course, this would be our manner of living in this hour.
If we make our life choices for ourselves, we will inevitably choose circumstances and
conditions that are comfortable to our flesh. This comfort stands as a hindrance to spiritual
growth. Having a home can afford so much comfort and insulation from the trials we need
to mature that Yahshua will call us to surrender even this which many find to be an absolute
requirement, and non-negotiable with the Lord. Yahshua spoke to a Scribe who wanted to
follow Him as a disciple. Scribes in Israel had comfortable lives, and nice homes. He told
the Scribe:

Matthew 8:20
"The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has
nowhere to lay His head."

Yahshua, although being the Son of God, was content to live far below the standard
of living of the people He dwelt among. Most Jews had a home of some kind, but Yahshua
lived as a homeless man. God could have provided a house and a nice ministry center for
His Son. Yet He chose that which was optimal to teach Him obedience, and to perfect Him.

Hebrews 5:8-9
Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He
suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey
Him the source of eternal salvation...

In order to enter by the narrow gate, and to travel the afflicted way which leads to life,
it is mandatory that we allow our Father in heaven to direct our steps. The vast majority of
mankind seek to direct their own steps. They have certain desires and requirements that
they feel this life should provide for them. Yahshua said that this path of self-direction is
wide and it leads to destruction.
I know that to Western Christians, this message is very radical. It was radical in the
day of Christ. The rich young ruler went away grieved, probably reasoning that what Christ
demanded of him could not possibly be the will of God. Most Scribes in Christ’s day would
also have balked at giving up the requirement of having their own home, thinking such a
sacrifice was totally unnecessary. The apostle Paul very plainly affirmed the words of Christ,
revealing that he was not only willing to accept this afflicted path, but he instructed others
that it was right and necessary.

I Timothy 6:6-11
But godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by
contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take