A Door and A Path

Intro:

Matthew 7:13–14 NKJV

13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

All Roads lead to Rome

This saying goes back to the Roman days when literally all roads lead to Rome.

Rome built its highways to directly towards the Capitol.

This saying in life application speaks to the center of all you do.

The question I should ask myself, is whether all roads in my life lead to God?

Or do all roads lead to something else.

What is the center of my paths.

What is the gate from which my paths begin?

In the modern world every is going somewhere.

Everyone is on the move.

Everyone is aiming towards something.

Im Trying to buy a house

Im trying to visit the world.

Im trying to save this amount of money.

Etc.

Nothing wrong with these things at face value, the problem is when that completely but the drive that pushes them is the issue.

They’ve entered

Modern GPS vs Map skills.... Hey Google.

My brother Curtis had come home from Italy to visit us, and attended worship at the congregation where I served. Afterword, he wanted to go to Mammoth Cave and show his wife and son one of the natural wonders of the US. We tagged along, and I told him I knew the way. He said, “Naw, we’ll use the GPS and that will get us there faster.” I should have never listened to him! We went through Amish country, down every backroad, and ended up at a trailer in the middle of nowhere! I asked him to let me see his GPS, and he had entered Mammoth Cave, KY…not Mammoth Cave National Park! He said from that point on, I would be in charge of directions anywhere in Kentucky! We can claim to have the directions, but are we sure that they are right? There is only one true source for Christ...and that is His Word!

The Gate/Door

John 10:7 NKJV

7 Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.

John 10:9 NKJV

9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.

He is the DOOR to our Salvation.

Jesus and His love is attractive to many.

Many will love His messages.

Many today claim that Jesus’ speeches are great.

But that is as far as they Go.

They observe the Gate and its beautiful design, but do not enter.

And if they enter it is only at the border.

The bible has always said there are two paths.

Jeremiah 21:8 NKJV

8 “Now you shall say to this people, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.

That is why in Revelation Jesus is knocking on the outside of the church asking if they would let Him in.

Revelation 3:20 NKJV

20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

This church had fallen off the path.

Jesus said of this church.

Revelation 3:17 NKJV

17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—

Why, they were not on the right path, although they talked like they were.

Many people wanna be bumper sticker christians.

Slap a sticker on it, viala!!!! Im christian.

The Many

Matthew 7:13 (NKJV)

13 .....for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.

BROAD = Ample Room, Wide, Spacious.....is the way that leads to destruction.

The many will take this option.

Why because they dont want to change.

John 3:19 NKJV

19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Many love the message of the bible, but that is as far as they will go with it.

And that is why the bible says

Matthew 7:21 NKJV

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

Matthew 7:22–23 NKJV

22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

This speaks of those who live a double life.

In church they worship and minister, but in secret, GOD KNOWS THEM.

The Broad way is the chosen many because its easy.

Easy living!!!

“Normal Living”

But everyone does it.

What is normal?

According to psychology , the way the culture moves dictates normality...... I guess even if its lunacy.

The Few

Matthew 7:14 NKJV

14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Jesus called the Narrow path..... the difficult path.

It aint easy.

It is uncomfortable.

WHY?

Its uncomfortable to change.

Its uncomfortable to stop sinning, when sinning is so easy.

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Six: The King’s Principles: True Judgment (Matthew 7)

God’s people have always been a remnant, a small minority in this world. The reason is not difficult to discover: The way of life is narrow, lonely, and costly. We can walk on the broad way and keep our “baggage” of sin and worldliness. But if we enter the narrow way, we must give up those things.

Your following Jesus, has to cost something.

It will cost you friends.

It will cost you to kill your desires..... the ones you love.

It will cost you!!!

Galatians 5:24–25 NKJV

24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

The few are the ones who build upon the ROCK!!!!

Matthew 5:24–25 NKJV

24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.

If you build a house on deep foundation, its gonna cost some sweat.

Its gonna cost some back pain, but the house will stand.

Whereas the one who wants to go the easy route.

Matthew 7:26–27 NKJV

26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

The few follow Christ, no matter the cost.

Matthew 16:24–26 NKJV

24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?