THE SIMPLICITY OF PRAYER: KNOCK

THE SIMPLICITY OF PRAYER:

KNOCK

Resurrection Sunday

Matthew 7:13-14 April 20th, 2025 Happy Resurrection Sunday!

Intro: At Michigan Theological Seminary, directions were a struggle for this island boy. Constantly lost despite following maps, I often ended up going the wrong way. Then I encountered a friend's new Garmin GPS. This satellite-based device gave turn-by-turn directions with a voice talking to you, which seemed unbelievable. As poor students, we saved up for one, and it revolutionized our travels, eliminating the fear of getting lost.

I tell you that story, because it really illustrates how most people live their lives.  Most people in the world are going through life, going their own way, doing their own thing. They believe that they are on the right road, heading in the right direction, and when their life ends, they believe that the road they have chosen will take them to heaven.  For some, a time of crisis or other significant problem leads them to evaluate whether they are on the right path or not, but countless others, continue on the path they have chosen with no real concern that their path leads them to destruction.  Today, I want to bring you to the crossroad of life.  I want, as best I can, and as much as is humanly possible, to encourage you, even to plead with you, to evaluate the path you have chosen and to see where it really leads you. 

Preview text:

In Matthew 7, part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (chapters 5-7), He contrasts God's perfect standards with human self-righteousness and Pretentious behaviors. After describing the kingdom in chapters 5-6, chapter 7 presents the choice to enter God’s Kingdom which is Heaven. Our theme verse, Matthew 7:7-8, encourages us to "Ask, seek, knock."

7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

We get to Verses 13-14 and it highlights the crucial decision of which path to take. Today, we'll explore four aspects of "Life at the Crossroads & The Power of the Knock!"

Matthew 7:13-14

13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy[a] that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

Pray

As we look at these two verses today, I want to point out four features.

I. Two Gates      

Look at what Jesus says beginning in verse 13, “Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way (NIV calls it ROAD) is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it.  For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it.”  The word “enter” is a command that demands definite and specific action.  Jesus is not telling us to admire the gate but to go through it.  As He gives this command, Jesus tells us there are two gates from which to choose.

· The narrow gate

In fact, this is the gate Jesus commands us to enter.  It is the right gate, God’s gate, the only gate that leads to life and to heaven.  But we need to understand what makes the narrow gate narrow.

In John 14:6 Jesus tells us just how narrow this gate is.  He says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.”  Similarly, over in John 10:9 Jesus said, “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”  And in Acts 4:12 we read, “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.”  Do you get the idea?  The narrow gate is narrow because God says there is only one way to Him and that is through His Son Jesus Christ. It is not simply belief in Jesus that allows a person to pass through the narrow gate and enter heaven.  Rather one must recognize their own sinfulness and repent of that sin and likewise trust Christ to deliver us from that sin. What makes the narrow gate narrow is that it can only be entered on God’s terms not our own.  To pass through this gate requires repentance from sin and faith in Jesus Christ.

· The wide gate

Those who enter through the wide gate believe whatever they want.  They may believe there is no God or that God is a God of love who accepts any and all comers.  Those who enter this gate preach a gospel of tolerance and that there are many ways to God.    Those who enter here come to God on their own terms, believing and doing what they want. There is syncretism (Jesus mixed in with other things)The wide gate is really a gate of pride, self-righteousness, and self-satisfaction.  The way through is really determined by man, not by God, therefore all people can pass through this gate.

I. Two Gates    

2. Two Roads

He points out that the two gates lead to two roads.

· The broad Road

NIV puts it:

13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. NIV

First, the broad road is easy to navigate.  The broad road is the easy, attractive, indulgent, permissive, and self-oriented way of the world.  There are few rules, few restrictions, and few requirements.  All you need to do be religious, and you are readily accepted in that large and diverse group.  Sin is tolerated, truth is moderated, and humility is ignored.  On the broad road, God’s Word is praised but not studied, and His standards are admired but not followed.  This way requires no spiritual maturity, no moral character, no commitment, and no sacrifice.  It is the easy way of floating downstream.  Over in Ephesians 2:1-3 the apostle Paul describes the broad road this way, he writes, “And you were dead in your trespasses and sin, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.  Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.”  What God makes clear is that the broad road, is the path of self.  It is living life on your own terms, but it is also a life lived under the control and influence of the devil.

CATCH THIS: The BROARD ROAD is the path we are on from birth.  In Isaiah 53:6 God says, “All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us have turned to his own way.”  Similarly in Romans 3:10-12 we are told, “There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; all have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one.”  Do you get the picture?  The broad road is the default setting.  It is the path we all are on, because we are born sinners.

· The narrow ROAD

This road is the exact opposite of the broad one.

Notice that it is hard to navigate.  Jesus says in verse 14, “the road is narrow.”  The word “narrow” comes from a Greek word which means to groan because one is under pressure.  It refers to something or someone that is pressed upon or compressed.  The idea here is that the narrow road is the demanding way.  It is the way of self-denial.  Over in Matthew 16:24 Jesus said, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”  While the broad is easy to navigate because there are no rules and no restrictions, the narrow way is quite different.  To travel this path one must be clothed in the righteousness of Christ which only happens when we recognize that Jesus Christ has died upon to pay for our sins. AND ROSE AGAIN TO GURANTEE ETERNAL LIFE FOR EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM (That’s why we celebrate Easter! Because Jesus is ALIVE!!) It requires coming to God in humility, being broken by our sin, and asking for His forgiveness.

I. Two Gates      2. Two Roads

3. Two Destinations

Here is the first:

· Destruction

While it may promise a life of happiness and fulfillment the reality is that when we go our own way and live life on our own terms that reality is ruin.  The word “destruction” does not refer to extinction or annihilation, but to total ruin and loss.  It is not the complete loss of being, but the complete loss of well-being.  It is the destination of all religions except the way of Jesus Christ, and it is the destiny of all those who follow any way but His.  It is the destination and destiny of hell, and everlasting torment.  This destination is summed up in Psalm 1:6 where it says, “The way of the wicked will perish.” 

· Life

This “life” is both a quality of life here on earth and eternal life later in heaven.  In John 10:10 Jesus said, “I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly.”  While both roads promise the good life, only the narrow road delivers on that promise.  In John 14:2-3 Jesus said, “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for 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.”

I. Two Gates      2. Two Roads 3. Two Destinations

4. Two Groups

The final feature in these two verses is two groups.  Going into the two gates, traveling down two roads, and heading for two destinations are two groups of people.

· Many & Few

Jesus says in verse 13 that those who go in through the wide gate and travel the road that is broad toward the destination of destruction are many.  This group will include pagans and nominal Christians, atheists and religionists, theists and humanists, Jews and Gentiles—every person from whatever age, background, persuasion, and circumstance who has not come to saving obedience to Jesus Christ.  In Matthew 7:22-23 Jesus says, “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’  And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”  The reality is that whether religious or not, most people are on the broad way that leads to destruction.

·  Few

The other group of people are few.  Jesus says in verse 14 that the group that goes through the narrow gate and travels the narrow road and is destined for life is few in number.  This group is few not because the gate is too narrow or too small to accommodate more.  There is no limit to the number who could go through that gate.  The problem is that most people are content to go their own way and refuse to repent and turn from their sin.  They would rather face destruction then proclaim Jesus as Lord.

Concl.:, I wonder today, which road will you choose?  Because we stand at a crossroads today. We have a choice between two gates and two paths. The wide and broad road may seem appealing, easy, and popular, but they ultimately lead to destruction.

It is saying you are a Christian but not living it:

 Consistent dishonesty and deception: Lying, cheating, and manipulating others for personal gain, relationships, or daily life.

Living for pleasure above all else: Prioritizing sensual gratification (food, drink, entertainment, sexual promiscuity) without regard for responsibility, consequences, or the well-being of themselves or others.

The narrow gate and narrow road, while requiring effort and perseverance, lead to true life, eternal life in heaven with Jesus.

Consistent prayer and seeking God's will: Regularly communicating with God, seeking His guidance in your decisions, and prioritizing His desires over your own.

Prioritizing eternal values over earthly possessions: Focusing on what truly matters in light of eternity, rather than being consumed by material wealth or worldly success.

Fellowship and accountability with other believers: Actively participating in a church for mutual encouragement, support, and accountability in living out your faith.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve learned about the simplicity of prayer, the importance of asking and seeking. Today, I urge you to embrace the power of knocking. Don't be passive in your pursuit of God. The very way you begin your journey towards heaven is by knocking on Jesus' door. This knocking is done through prayer, a heartfelt plea asking Jesus to come into your heart and save you,

Romans 10:9-10 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Remember the promise: "Knock, and the door will be opened to you." Right now, if you feel the call in your heart, I invite you to knock on Jesus' door. You can do this by praying a simple prayer, asking Him to come into your heart, to forgive your sins, and to be your Lord and Savior. He is waiting to hear your knock and ready to open the door to eternal life for you. Will you knock today?

If going down two roads get to a crossroad and need direction.  There are two men, one alive and one dead, who will you ask for direction? Jesus is alive and he wants you go spend eternity with him in heaven.

Summary Slide: I. Two Gates The narrow gate The wide gate

2. Two Roads The broad Road The narrow ROAD

3. Two Destinations Destruction Life

4. Two Groups Many Few

Prayer: Dear God,

I come before you today with a humble heart. I recognize that I have not always lived in a way that honors you. I have made mistakes and gone my own way. I am sorry for these times and for the things I have done wrong.

Right now, I open my heart and life to Jesus. I believe that He is your Son, that He died on the cross for my sins, and that He rose again. I ask for your forgiveness through His sacrifice.

Jesus, I invite you to come into my life. Be my Lord and my Savior. Help me to follow you, to learn from you, and to live a life that pleases you. Thank you for your love and for opening the door to a new life with you.