Matthew 7:13-14
October 22, 2008
Jesus said…
"Enter through the narrow gate. For Wide is the Gate and Broad is the Road that leads to destruction. And many enter through it. But Narrow is the Gate and Narrow is the Road that leads to Life. And only a few find it." Matthew 7:13-14.
For now, both Gates are open... but not always. Soon, they will close. But the Narrow Gate will close First. And in light of the recent events, and the anticipated coming election, I am sensing that it will begin to close (very) soon. Make sure that you enter through the Narrow Gate which is Jesus, and be on the Road that leads to Life!
It is Narrow because there is No Other Way. Jesus said, "I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life!" No man comes to the Father EXCEPT Through Me!" The Narrow Road represents a Life that is surrendered and submitted to God's will. It is a Road that follows the Will of the Lord, not your will, or mine, or anybody else's, but God alone. In other words, there is no room for doing anything else but to faithfully follow God, His way, and not our own (way). We cannot really "play around" on a narrow road. There are many professing Christians that are "playing around." The Narrow road represents a life of self-denial, a life of carrying the cross, a life of sacrifice. But in the end, as Jesus promised, it will lead to LIFE ETERNAL in heaven with God forever. An eternity of Love, Joy, Peace, and good pleasure forever with our Heavenly Father and our Lord.
That's why the Bible says that "the sufferings of this world cannot be compared to the glory that will be revealed to us in Christ Jesus!" Unfortunately, denial of self and carrying of the cross, which is the cost of following Christ, have made many to walk out of the Narrow Gate. They have walked away from Christ because they don't want to die to self and submit to Christ. Instead, they want to have the freedom to do whatever they want, whenever they want, however they please.
People who do what they want and don't want to be told, and don't want to surrender or submit to the authority of God enter and go through the Wide Gate that leads to the Broad Road where there is much room. Much room to have their own way and go wherever they please, to the right or to the left, doing whatever they want. Yes, they may have the pleasure (temporary), or they may enjoy and have fun (for the moment) but the road they're on leads to destruction, that is, an EXISTENCE without God who is LIFE, Love, Joy and Peace. Sad to say, people choose to have their own way and pursue "fun" now... to enjoy now, disregarding the fact that nothing on this earth lasts and more tragically, ignoring the truth of God's Word regarding the future. Many are blinded by the glitter and pleasure the world offers.
And that's why Jesus not only gave the warning regarding the Wide Gate and the Broad (comfortable) Road but gives this INVITATION to ENTER IN through the Narrow Gate leading to the Narrow Road that leads to Life! He wants us to Enter the Narrow Gate because if we don’t, there is no other option but to enter the Wide Gate. In other words, if we don’t enter the Narrow Gate, people will be in danger of entering the Wide Gate.
So, there are only 2 choices. Jesus said; Enter through the Narrow Gate. Enter in Humility, in Repentance, and Surrender to the Lord Jesus and submit to the Will of God, and you will have Life Everlasting!
Have you entered in? If not yet, Enter In... and be on the Road to Life! If you've entered in, STAY IN no matter what it takes, no matter what the cost. The Sacrifice or Cost of living for God is not much compared to the Cost of going to an Eternity of Suffering away from God!
Choose Jesus, and Live for Him Now no matter what the cost. It will be worth it all, when we see Christ! If you went out and ran away, hear the gentle, loving voice of the Master. Jesus, the Shepherd and lover of your soul is calling... "Come, and Enter In."
Do not delay, as the gate, especially the Narrow Gate, will not be open forever. The time is coming... the Narrow Gate will be closing... and may close sooner than we think.
Jesus Christ is coming really soon!
pK
Posted by Pastor Kevin at 8:39 pm.
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Fruitful or Fruitless?
May 20, 2008
John 15: 1-7
Jesus said, "I am the Vine, you are the branches... Abide in Me and let My Words remain in you... Apart from me, you can do nothing."
Jesus wants us to be "fruitful" in our lives. He wants us to be victorious and be productive and not be stagnant and live defeated, fruitless lives. Jesus wants us, our lives, abounding with "good works" that testify of God's presence and power, and bring honor to His name. He wants to produce in us righteous deeds coming from a Christ-like character resulting from a constant drawing from the Lord through His Word in times of personal devotion. We need to "direct-draw" from the Lord as a branch would from the vine. The vine is the source of life and nourishment for the branch. And if the branch is to have life and bear fruit, the branch needs to "remain" in the vine.
In the same way, we need to remain in Christ, that is, to stay connected to Him as Jesus is not only the source of life but is the source of nourishment that will guarantee not only spiritual life and growth, but "fruitfulness" as well. There can be no fruitfulness apart from Christ. There can be no growth apart from Christ. As a matter of fact, there is no life apart from Christ. No wonder Jesus said, "apart from me, you can do nothing." Only dead people can do nothing.
So the Lord is saying that apart from Him, a person cannot do anything as the person, though physically alive, is spiritually dead. No wonder he says that those who do not bear fruit at all are "cut down and thrown away to be burned" because they are "dead." They are like the branches that are externally attached, but internally, there is no life. Thus, the inability to draw any nourishment from the vine. There are many people like that who, outwardly, look like they are spiritually alive. Outwardly, they appear to be Christians and may even talk like a Christian would. They claim they are believers of Christ and may even go to church regularly. They go to religious events and may even get involved and be participate in "Christian" activities. But upon close observation of their lives, there is no "fruit" that verify nor validate their profession of faith. They have a form of godliness, but there is no power within in their lives. According to Jesus, fruitless people are like branches that will be "cut-off and burned."
If we want to have a productive life, a victorious life, the quality of life in Christ, that is, a life that is abounding with fruit, even the fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control, then we need to abide in Christ. That is, we need to spend time with Him and meditate on His Word. The Holy Spirit uses the (seed of the) Word of God to produce fruitfulness in our lives.
Fruitfulness in life is an evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit in one's life. Fruitfulness is a characteristic of one abiding in Christ. Fruitfulness is a direct result of meditating on the Word of God.
Posted by Pastor Kevin at 4:50 pm.
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