The Highway of Holliness

Four Roads Leading To Life

Proverbs 12:28

In the way of righteousness is life;

And in the pathway thereof there is no death.

I. THE DAMASCUS ROAD—THE ROAD OF CHANGE

Acts 9:1–6

1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

A. What a change in Paul! From persecutor to preacher, from despiser of the church to defender of the faith!

Galatians 1:23-24

The churches in Judea heard that “he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. And they glorified God in me”

B. Acts 8:1

And Saul was consenting unto his death.And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

C. Acts 8:3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison

D. But Paul was changed on the Damascus Road! 2 Corinthians 5:17

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV 1900)

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Galatians 2:20 (KJV 1900)

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Acts 9:5

And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

II. THE ROAD TO EMMAUS —THE ROAD OF FELLOWSHIP

Luke 24:13–35 (KJV 1900)

13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.

14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.

16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?

18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?

19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:

20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.

21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.

22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;

23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.

24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.

25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.

29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.

30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.

31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,

34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.

35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.

A. After the change, there was fellowship. “Did not our hearts burn within us …?” (v. 32).

B. 1 John 1:7

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin

C. “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” Acts 2:42 .

D. John said, “That ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ” 1 John 1:3 I will never forget the fellowship of the saints when I was a young in the Lord.

E. “God is faithful, by whom ye were CALLED UNTO THE FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SON JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD”

1 Corinthians 1:9

F. Paul, said in Galatians 2:9

And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

III. THE JERICHO ROAD—THE ROAD OF SERVICE

Luke 10:30–37

30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 33 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

A. “A certain man … fell among thieves”; they took his clothes, wounded him, and left him half dead. By chance a priest came by, but passed by on the other side of the road.

“A Levite … came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.”

But a certain Samaritan came by and saw him and “had compassion on him.” He did not just “pass by.” He not only “looked on him,” but he also “went to him.”

B. Serving Christ is different from worshiping Christ.

C. Jesus had compassion on the multitudes and fed 5,000 men not including the women and children

D. Acts 10:38

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

E. We do service by witnessing, visiting the sick, helping financially when necessary.

We serve God by serving each other.And helping the needy.

A man was praying for a needy man and said, “God, send food or send someone who has plenty or put it in somebody’s heart to help him.” But God said, “What about one of those hams in your smokehouse?”

Jesus said: Matthew 25:40

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

IV. THE JERUSALEM ROAD—THE ROAD OF SUFFERING

Matthew 16:21

From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

A. “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be [crucified].”

B. “Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?” Luke 24:26

C. His sufferings were many. Yes, the Jerusalem Road is a road of suffering!

All Christians will suffer,we are No better that our master. Maturity comes through suffering

Hebrews 5:8

Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

2 Timothy 3:12

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

D. 1 Corinthians 4:11-13 “Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no dwellingplace; and labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day!!

E. The Christian life is not all honey and sugar, hammocks and lemonade.

Oh, but there is joy, immeasurable joy, in serving Jesus!

Don’t believe the preachers who preach “name it and claim it.”

They will tell you you can have a mansion, a Cadillac, or a Mercedes Benz, and you can always smile and laugh!

NO, NO! There are heartaches, but thanks be to God, there is also happiness! 2 Corinthians 2:14

Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

F. Philippians 3:8

Yea doubtless, and 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,

G. 2 Timothy 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

H. 1 Peter 5:10

But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you

CONCLUSION:

We must each travel that Road of Change to gain entrance to the Road of Fellowship, which in turn guides us to the Road of Service, which leads to the Road of Suffering; but if we stay on the course of this highway called “Holiness,” we will one day be ushered into the Streets of Gold.