The Narrow Way
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Recap
Sermon Recap
characteristics of the blessed (5:2-16)
perfect righteousness comes from the heart, characteristic of only Jesus (5:17-30)
complete hatred of and lacking mercy, grace and even love for enemies is not characteristic of kingdom children (5:31-48)
good works are not performed for men but in private communion with your heavenly Father who sees in secret and will reward you (6:1-18)
our main and major investments belong in the eternal kingdom of our one master and Father (6:19-24)
worry for daily needs is a mindset of unbelievers, our focus is on the kingdom and His righteousness first and foremost (6:25-34)
personal holiness is of first concern before the sins of others. The sins of others is to be dealt with only out of your humble holiness with discernment and discrimination from the Father (7:1-11)
to engage others and love them as yourself is to first understand how you have been and are loved by the Father (7:12)
Do we yet understand how these things are counter cultural, but more importantly are at war with our flesh?
10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
The Deception of “Easy”
The Deception of “Easy”
Prov. 11 - read
what is natural to man appears easy, enticing even, but in the end it leads to death and destruction. Therefore, fear God
28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
What is actually easy?
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
The Truth of “Hard”
The Truth of “Hard”
notice back in chapter 5 all the ways one is deemed a blessed man, vv.10-12 then allude to further blessedness in being persecuted for living in such a way
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.
9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.
Hope in the Hard
Hope in the Hard
10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
The application of the sermon up to this point is to break from self, trust your heavenly Father. It is easy to trust in self, natural for sinners, to trust God goes against every natural instinct of a sinner. But to trust God is to confess He is God, dwelling in eternal goodness and perfection, He alone is to be trusted and feared.
an illustration...
Evangelist pointed his finger over a very wide field. “Do you see the wicket gate over there in the distance?” (“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. – Matt. 7:13-14) The man squinted. “No.” Evangelist points the way to the wicket gate Evangelist asked, “Do you see the shining light in the distance?” (So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. – 2 Peter 1:19) “I think I do.” Evangelist said, “Keep that light in your eye and go up directly to it. If you do, you will see the gate. Upon arrival at the gate, when you knock you will be told what you should do.” In my dream the man began to run. He hadn’t run far from his own door when his wife and children noticed what he was doing and cried out to him. “Come back! Come home!” The man put his fingers in his ears and ran on. “Life! Life! Eternal life!”
Bunyan, John. Pilgrim’s Progress (Parts 1 & 2): Updated, Modern English. More than 100 Illustrations. (Bunyan Updated Classics) (pp. 4-5). Aneko Press. Kindle Edition.
Romans 8 is this born-again christian life lived not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.