I Am The Way

“I Am The Way”

Dear Beloved, you can see it just as good as I could, it appears as everyone today is looking for some kind of way. Some are looking for a way to stay healthy in this covid & flu time. Others are looking for a way to cope with chronic pain and illness or an addiction. Some seek ways to make money to make ends meet, ways to improve a family relationship or ways to reconcile themselves to their children, even looking for a way to raise their children with the values of GOD’s eternal word, listen dear heart, everyone is looking for a way to improve life in some fashion or other.

If possible, I will bring 5 short points in this 3 part sermon that I will call THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE. Today we will speak of the WAY.

1) The Way Is a Path to Success (or Failure).

2) The Way Is a Passage through Death.

3) The Way Is a Prescription (so to speak) for Eternal Life.

4) The Way Is a Pattern for our Church

5) The Way is a Person to Imitate

Text: (Jh 14:1-6) “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Now to dig this scene, we have to know that its unfolding in the upper room on the last night of JESUS’ life-- I recommend that you read the scene which starts in chapter 13-17.--- Judas has left to make arrangements to betray JESUS.-- The LORD knows HE is about to die. --HE looks around at a room full of troubled faces.-- Probably Thomas is simply speaking for the group when he tells JESUS, “we don’t know the way” The response of JESUS to Thomas,-- and to all of HIS disciples, is emphatic: “I Am The WAY.”-- Facing the confusion of HIS followers, as well as HIS own approaching death,-- what did JESUS mean by that? And beloved what does it mean to you and I today that JESUS is the way?..which brings me to the first point..

1) The Way Is a Path to Success (or Failure) …in

(Deut 5:33) “You shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess.” Listen, our Great GOD tells HIS people, Israel,-- that HE wants them to do well in the land of Canaan.--but The way to do that, was to walk in all HIS ways.-- In other words,-- the people like us were told to follow GOD’s commands so—our lives would be blessed. GOD was not threatening them, --nor does HE threat you and I, --HE is explaining how HE works with us as HIS people. --Listen dear heart,-- when we as people do things GOD’s way,-- our lives improve.-- When we fail to follow GOD’s ways, our lives suffer. (I was a Living proof of failure.---many of us were-- I am now a living proof of abundant life). And this abundant life came only by having a relationship with the living word of GOD-- that is JESUS.-- Your Bible is for you-- to help you in every sphere of your life.

Some people are afraid of God.-- They are scared to let go of the world and its ways.--- I could dig this,-- I could understand this-- because I myself had to let go of this world—and take a leap of faith in somebody I couldn’t see- somebody I couldn’t feel- somebody I couldn’t hear-- all I had was the Bible-- and the precious promise that my life would be different if I asked Jesus in my life.--- But dear beautiful beloved little lambs of God, --when we surrender to God and follow HIS ways, our lives cant help but to improve.-- If we ignore God like I did for so many decades,-- our lives unavoidably worsen—well, at least mine did--. This is not God getting even with us,-- this is merely the natural result of people choosing wisely or poorly.-- as a child, as a teenager, as a young adult-- and as an adult I chose poorly,-- so poorly that it came a time I chose to hang myself in prison.-- Jesus intervened.-- my choices nowadays are around Jesus and my communication with him:-- communication is talking to HIM,-- communication is also listening to HIM.-- If you choose to ignore God’s teaching on marriage and sexual fidelity, you will pay.-- I just did a marriage Steve And Fran,-- I had the privilege to use a line in the marriage that went like this “we thank you God for allowing us to come together to see two of your children who have not live together or know each other to become one in your eyes”-- I did not ask for money to marry them.--- I did ask one thing and that was 10 marriage counseling sessions, which they did.

Listen Beloved if we choose to ignore God’s teaching on marriage and sexuality fidelity,-- it is a very high percentage in the 90s we will suffer injury to our marriages.-- You might lose the home and family you have lived with for years. But, if you stay faithful and treat your spouse as God commands, you will be happy and blessed-- with a lifetime companion and friend.-- Now beautiful saints who wins in this scenario when God’s ways are followed? (Prov 10:29) “The way of Jehovah is a stronghold to the upright; But it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.”

As our Jesus looks into worried faces in that upper room,-- HE wants to assure them that HE is “The Way.” That is,-- HE-JESUS-- is purely being and doing what God wants. (Jh 6:38) “I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.” also, as bleak as things might appear—in your life right now-- GOD’s way will succeed.-- God makes a way out of no way.-- dear beloved-- that’s a challenge for the 11 apostles--in the upper room.-- But not only to them-- but for each one of us. --Those apostles can only see death on the rising-- they are, at best confused-- at worst scared to death-- I would be.-- But Jesus wants them to know-- Jesus wants us to know that following GOD’s way,-- following Jesus’s way, We’ll always succeed. The Way Is a Path to Success (or Failure)—it is our choice -- PTL! Amen…now point ..

2) The WayIs a Passage through Death.

(1 King 2:1-2) “Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying, I am going the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and show thyself a man;” David reminds his son that all that lives must die. David knows he’s about to die-- and even describes the process as “the way of all the earth.” Beloved as you and I know --death is the one constant in this world.-- If something is alive, one day it will die. From a beautiful flower like on the nature channel that blooms and fades in one day,-- to a turtle who lives over a century,-- death awaits everything.-- People die as well, and none of us can escape it. (Ps 89:48) “What man can live and not see death? Can he deliver his life from the power of the grave?”

Now Beloved getting back into this word,-- this is the context in which Jesus tells us HE is “The Way”-- Jesus is preparing HIMSELF and HIS disciples for the upcoming events which will end with HIS crucifixion.-- But beloved precious saints,-- Jesus promises more than the reality of death-- and that’s deep.-- He tells HIS disciples that HE is going ahead to prepare a place for them.-- A place for you and I also. That place (which is heaven) will have plenty of room for everyone (who has asked JESUS in their heart—that’s the qualifier).-- It’s a dwelling place beyond death.-- So dear heart,-- Jesus is telling them,-- and HE tells us- HE knows The Way through death.-- For them- the apostles--, and for us beloved,- death need not be scary.-- If we follow Jesus,- we will be in the path of ONE who knows the way through death.-- As we face the sureness of death, we can find hope in the way of Jesus, who knows all about overcoming death. Praise the Lord amen. The Way Is a Passage through Death

3) The WayIs a Prescription for Eternal LIFE

Listen beloved, in (Jh 14) JESUS is pointing beyond death to a future life.-- He is preparing a place for His followers,-- us-- a place for everyone who will walk in HIS way.-what is HIS way (Rom 10:9-13)-- Facing death is certain as (Job 14:1-2) states “Man who is born of woman Is of few days and full of trouble. He comes forth like a flower and fades away; He flees like a shadow and does not continue.” but Jesus offers life beyond death. This is what makes HIM such a Great SAVIOR!

Listen beautiful brothers and sisters,-- suppose a physician gave you a prescription that would cure everything that could possibly afflict you.-- Would you take that pill?-- There are no side effects, just perfect health.-- Would any sane person want to be perfectly healthy and wouldn’t a Sane person takes such a prescription?--- Jesus offers just such a pill (so to speak) that provides more than physical life, it offers eternal life. (Pro 12:28) “In the way of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death” listen dear beautiful sister dear beautiful brother, if you will take the prescription Jesus offers, you can stop worrying about death and the next life. You Will be eternally alive in God’s presence, dwelling in one of those many rooms Jesus has prepared. Jesus wants us to know that he is THE WAY to eternal life all you need to do is walk in His ways every day; and HIS ways are not hard-- it’s different,-- you have to get used to them;-- love Joy peace patients goodness kindness gentleness faithfulness self-control-- that is his way. (Jh 3:16) “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” This is HIS way. – The Way Is a Prescription for Eternal LIFE

4) The Way Is a Pattern for the Church

For you- who know,- who read your Bible,- you know in the book of Acts several times the church is described as “the way” for instance,-- Saul sot letters to prosecute “the way” (Act 9:2). The way was a phrase used to describe us-- the Christians as an early body of believers. In seeing this phrase applied to the church, we get a deeper sense of what the church is supposed to be. Listen beautiful brothers and beautiful sisters-- the church it is not merely an organization structured of a society that uphold certain standards.—Listen,- it is, instead, a living body and organism, alive and called to imitate our MASTER JESUS. It is not merely an institution,-- But a living body of people all going somewhere in the name of Jesus, amen.

Beautiful brothers and sisters-- too many people of the world see the church as stagnant- idle -declining deteriorating.- They think that since the church today has established the basic principles of salvation, faith, worship and so on, that there is nothing else to do.-- But beloved, you don’t stand in THE WAY, if you do you get run over! Many of you have been going to church since you were young-- many you have now start coming to church-- whatever it is, I’m telling you, The church is to be alive and moving.-- Just like today you’re here-- we’re moving.-- The church is to be growing in faith,-- In teaching,-- in doctrine and in size.-- This is what happened to Apollo’s.-- He was a forceful speaker for the CHRIST. But he failed to understand some important things. --So, Aquila and Priscilla took him aside and hipped him to the real. (Act 18:26) “So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.” Apollos was trying to serve God like we are,-- but like many of us he needed to know more about THE WAY. So others shared with him their faith and he learned more about what God wanted him to be.-- It’s like what I’m doing-- I’m showing more-- so you can learn more-- so you can make the wise decisions and know that they are godlike decisions-- some of you have not asked Jesus in your heart yet-- it’s a decision that you will have to make, that requires an open mind, a growing faith, a better response to God’s commands. The church is a way, not a stop.-- It is a place of progress.-- As Isaiah wonderfully puts it (Is 35:8) “A highway shall be there, and a road, And it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, But it shall be for others. Whoever walks the road, although a fool, Shall not go astray.”-- Listen, as Isaiah speaks of a time of the Messiah,-- that is Jesus the Christ, --he describes people walking, moving along the highway of holiness.-- Again dear hearts,--- the way as described in the Bible is an active,-- living process that reflects the life of Jesus He Is The Way- He Is The Truth- He Is The Life.- So beloved, Jesus offers us THE WAY to live.- When confused,- scared or uncertain,- simply turn to Jesus and follow HIM. He is the living way.—And The Way is a pattern for the church-- PTL! Amen.

5) The Way is JESUS and HE is a Person to Imitate

When we consider all the Bible has to say about THE WAY, --it comes down to one simple principle.-- Jesus is THE WAY-- and should be followed.-- The way we are to live is not simply a pattern for a church,-- but is a lifestyle modeled by Jesus for us to duplicate-- (Eph 5:1-2) “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”-- It’s sad to say in most areas of life,-- the way is about “who you know. --“In this case dear beautiful brothers and sisters,-- it is Jesus you need to know.-- “Who you know” now days can open doors in business in the neighborhood and other places, even in the church, If you know the right person,-- Jesus who is the way to God,-- the door to God can be open for you. Just by asking JESUS in your heart.

If we use our spiritual imagination, --Jesus looks into worried faces on the last night of HIS life.-- He wants them to have some assurance in the face of the events about to take place.-- So, the MASTER asked them to walk in the way HE lived. HE is THE WAY. His is the only path that brings in reconciliation of family relations with others, Success, and HIS is the only path that overcomes death, that insures eternal life. --His way is more than agreeing to certain facts of faith; --it is setting out on a journey in which we make every effort to be like HIM, to walk in HIS ways. --That is not always easy, but it is the only way to know God.-- Jesus will open the doors of heaven to you,-- if you will walk in HIS way. Have you started that by asking Jesus into your heart.-- The Way is JESUS and HE is a Person to Imitate

In Conclusion:

(Mat 7:13-14) says “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” precious brothers and sisters I love you. You know as well as I do that most people choose Ways that don’t work.-- We all been there and done that --some of us have chosen so poorly in this world it took us away from people we love and how many other things for many years--. when it comes to eternal life, -your eternal life,- THE WAY is narrow.-- There is only one way to GOD, and that is through HIS SON, JESUS the CHRIST.

I want to be with you, I want to help you grow. There’s much to be said about heaven in GOD’s WORD-- and I want to be with you there when it comes time.-- You’re beautiful you deserve the best.-- As you seek ways to live, to improve your life, you get your AA youre BA and masters and your PH D’s-- these things go a long way to improve your life and there commendable.-- Remember, Jesus is THE WAY. Follow HIM and live.-- accept HIS way today by faith,-- repentance and allow me to baptize you-- so you can come and say I am a Christian --I’m a follower of CHRIST,-- that is HIS narrow way. And it is the way to life.