The Way

John 14:5–7 ESV

5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

Thesis/ Central Idea:

The way believers journey through this world and into the life to come where Jesus Christ himself is the way to live.

Introduction:

Have you ever used a map to get anywhere?

I’m talking about the old books and Atlas that had every State in it, it would even break down the metro areas

(discuss the new maps like Apple, Google, Waze and how they have changed our habits)

Today we need to set a destination for our soul, that is heaven, then we need to follow The Way...

God’s ways

Walking in God’s way

The everyday Christian walks in God’s ways...

Isaiah 35:8 ESV

8 And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.

We claim all the time how Holy we are

Well if that were true it should be seen and experienced...

1 John 2:6 ESV

6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

See also Ge 18:19; Ex 18:20; Dt 10:12–13; Dt 13:5; Dt 28:9; Jos 22:5; Job 23:10–12; Ps 1:1–2; Ps 18:30; 2 Ti 3:10

The Way is Taught

It should be understood that in order for one to follow the Way, he must be taught...

Isaiah 48:17 ESV

17 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go.

As one is taught, characteristics should develop and be strengthened...

See also 1 Sa 12:23; 1 Ki 8:35–36; Ps 25:8–9; Ps 25:12; Ps 86:11; Ps 119:30; Pr 6:23; Is 2:3; Is 30:20–21

Characteristics of the way of life include holiness, obedience, trust, humility, joy and peace

Not everyone wants to walk in this way…as a matter of fact no one walks the way he should and is changed into someone who walks the Way...

Ps 16:11; Ps 23:2; Pr 8:20; Je 6:16; Mic 6:8; Ga 5:22–23

Sinners refuse to follow God’s way

Isaiah 53:6 ESV

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

We must find the Way before it is too late...

See also Is 56:11; Ac 14:16; 2 Pe 2:15

All other ways end in death

Proverbs 14:12 ESV

12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

Just as death is the result of not walking God’s way

Life is the result of walking correctly...

See also Dt 11:28; Dt 31:29; Jdg 2:17; 2 Ki 21:22; Ps 1:6; Pr 15:10; Pr 16:25

Those who travel God’s way are blessed

Proverbs 4:18 ESV

18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.

There is a given example of how to walk...

See also Dt 5:33; 1 Ki 8:23; Pr 11:5; Is 26:7–8; Mt 5:3–12

Jesus Christ is the Way to life

Jn 14:6; Col 2:3

John 14:6 ESV

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

Colossians 2:3 ESV

3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

In Jesus we find all we need to walk righteously, that is why the church was literal called the way...

See also Jn 8:12; Heb 12:2

“the Way” was an early designation of Christianity, suggestive of the content of the church’s message that Jesus Christ is the way to life:

Ac 9:2; Ac 19:9; Ac 19:23; Ac 22:4; Ac 24:14; Ac 24:22

Acts 9:2 (ESV)

2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

Acts 19:9 (ESV)

9 But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus.

Acts 19:23 (ESV)

23 About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way.

Acts 22:4 (ESV)

4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women,

Acts 24:14 (ESV)

14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets,

Acts 24:22 (ESV)

22 But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.”

So the Bible makes plan is there is a way

to enter into that way is to find life...

Entrance to the Way to life

The way to life is not broad...

Entrance is restricted

Matthew 7:13–14 ESV

13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy 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.

A life lived as if choices didn’t matter

and personal preferences ruled every decision

then we are going to miss the entrance

what you believe is very important...

See also Jn 10:9; Jn 14:6

Entrance is by faith

this is how chapter on the Hall of Faith reads...

Hebrews 11:8–10 ESV

8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.

We preach our eulogies everyday we live

I pray we walk as if we have a goal in mind

I pray that goal is heaven as your eternal destiny

I pray you set your souls navigation to that eternal home with God and all the Saints...

See also Jn 3:15–16; 2 Co 5:7; Heb 11:6; Heb 11:13–16

Hebrews 11:13–16 ESV

13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

Conclusion:

Consider your Way today

make an adjustment just like our Apple and Google and Waze maps

once we put in our destination it does the best it can to keep us on course

it does it’s best to keep us on The Way...

Invitation: