The Narrow Door

The Question

Jesus is traveling toward Jerusalem

He is teaching on the way

one asks Him a question

this question is debated by the scholars

how many are in the kingdom?

Jesus taught that the kingdom will start tiny like a mustard seed

and eventually grow to be the biggest in the garden

Jesus is not going to answer this man the way he expects

but to make it personal to him

v 22 24

Are you going to be there?

do everything you can to be there

the door to the kingdom is narrow

you cant bring any baggage with you because it wont fit

your sin, your idols, your trusting in yourself

maybe even your family you have to leave behind as you enter the narrow and small rocky path

all of these things make you to wide to fit through the door

Broad is the way to destruction

easy is the way of the masses

easy is the way to hell

the go with the flow of society

there is loss of laying down your baggage before you enter

and leaving it all behind

people want to go to Heaven but they cant fit because of all they are trying to take with them

like the monkey could be free if he would let go of the nut

there is only a matter of time before that door is shut

V 24-28

once the door is shut its to late

like the 10 virgins waiting for the groom to come for the banquet

5 brought oil for their lamps

5 foolish did not

they had to go buy some and when they did the door was shut with them outside

V 29-30

this is good news for us because this is saying that there are going to be gentiles in this kingdom

and the Israelites consider themselves to be first

and a lot of them will be last because a gentile will take their place

now that I have gone through all of the scripture for today and I’m still in the introduction

Strive

V 24

the christian walk begins with strive to enter

laying aside all that hinders us from fitting through the door

but the whole Christian walk is to striving for the prize

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) 76 ἀγωνίζομαι

compete, fight, struggle, with an emphasis on effort

1 Corinthians 9:25 LSB

Now everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible.

to wrestle with all your will and strength

so what are we striving for

Matthew 7:14 LSB

“For the gate is narrow and the way is constricted that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

the way also is constricted

we have enemies we need to strive with

Principalities and Powers

Ephesians 6:12 LSB

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

satan tempts us he knows our weaknesses

he knows how to tempt us to make help us fall

he knows what buttons to push to bring doubt

he knows our past sins to make us feel guilty and shameful

If you are a child of God your sins are all forgiven

God has chosen not to remember them

there is nothing to feel guilty about

but satan finds away for you to think about them and ruminate on them

the doubts and fears that satan brings to your mind are keeping you from doing what Yahweh has called you to do

with every instruction from God there is the Holy Spirit there to give you the means of accomplishing the mission

The Holy Spirit is our comforter

The Holy Spirit is our guide in life

The Holy Spirit is our enabler to to the work of God

to do the good works that God has set before us to do

this is what we need to be striving for wrestling against the fiery darts of satan

another way we need to strive is with our

Ministries

Our ministries should be our best work

we should strive to put God’s work above pleasure

above comfort

Many cases great people of the faith died young because they worked themselves to death

great work cannot be done in leisure

whether you are cleaning the building or

Nanna’s Bible Stories

discipling others

preaching and teaching , witnessing it all must be done to the glory of God

our very best

And again satan is involved there also

giving you the thoughts that it is good enough

when you know it is not your best

another way we need to strive in this narrow way is with

Sin

1 John 2:16 LSB

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

from satan he introduced all of these to Eve

our pride of getting the last word in

we cant let a subject drop without winning

maybe we can take some wisdom from King Solomon

Proverbs 17:27–28 LSB

He who holds back his words has knowledge, And he who has a cool spirit is a man of discernment. Even an ignorant fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is considered understanding.

our mouth sometimes is something we need to wrestle with on this narrow road that we are on

Read James 3 2-12.

our tongue can get us into so much trouble

this is something that the Holy Spirit is here to help us with

this wrestling is done with His help not just in our own power

there is hundreds of other sins that we wrestle with that we need help with

our striving to be the child of God we are called to be is a full time work

on this narrow path we cannot have any baggage because we will get stuck

and we cant advance any further

whether satan is deceiving us into lethargy

or we are not giving 100% to our ministry

or the fact that sin has tarnished our good reputation

whatever baggage is causing us to get stuck on the path needs to be gotten rid of

we need to repent and renounce this sin in our lives

and if we have not entered the narrow door its about time

lay your burden at the cross of Jesus

and call on Him to take away your sins

to put your trust in Him to save you from Hell and destruction