Title: The Narrow Way to Life (Matthew 7:13-14) Meta: We must put away the idea of a so-called Christianity that says you don't have to follow Christ entirely. This is false and headed in the direction of the broad road to destruction. The only rules on the easy way are the ones you want. Yet on the narrow way to life one is bound to Jesus Christ and reliant on Him. There are going to be such powers that are going to resist you in this world that if God's everlasting arms were not under you, you would fail in a moment. Tags: Matthew 7:13-14,Christian,salvation,heaven,Narrow,gate,way 1 00:00:00,436 --> 00:00:23,762 Matthew 7:13-14, "Enter by the narrow gate. 2 00:00:23,763 --> 00:00:35,926 For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, 3 00:00:35,927 --> 00:00:41,496 and those who enter by it are many. 4 00:00:41,497 --> 00:00:53,055 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, 5 00:00:53,056 --> 00:01:00,521 and those who find it are few."(P) 6 00:01:00,522 --> 00:01:15,524 I want you to focus your eyes on verse 14 and find that word "life". 7 00:01:15,525 --> 00:01:21,569 Think about the word "life". 8 00:01:21,570 --> 00:01:26,099 It's something desirable. 9 00:01:27,080 --> 00:01:29,213 I mean, I try to think about it, 10 00:01:29,214 --> 00:01:35,593 I know the Scripture talks about the fact that eternity is written on our hearts. 11 00:01:35,594 --> 00:01:39,685 You know, we could get into what all that means. 12 00:01:39,686 --> 00:01:48,718 But life, man is just wired to desire life. 13 00:01:48,719 --> 00:01:54,901 That word, life, is a rich word. 14 00:01:54,902 --> 00:01:58,262 Life. 15 00:01:58,263 --> 00:02:05,475 The Lord Jesus Christ is not speaking about this life 16 00:02:05,476 --> 00:02:09,874 because whatever life He is talking about is a life that few find. 17 00:02:09,875 --> 00:02:15,579 And you don't talk that way about this life. 18 00:02:15,580 --> 00:02:18,182 He is speaking about something beyond all of this. 19 00:02:18,183 --> 00:02:24,022 Something higher. Something better. 20 00:02:24,023 --> 00:02:27,480 He is speaking about, (O brethren, we sang it,) 21 00:02:27,481 --> 00:02:35,789 He is speaking about being ravished by the beauty of the King. 22 00:02:35,790 --> 00:02:39,142 And if you know how Jesus describes eternal life, 23 00:02:39,143 --> 00:02:50,306 you know that that is not a bad definition of what it is all about.(P) 24 00:02:50,307 --> 00:02:53,525 Life. 25 00:02:53,526 --> 00:03:09,140 To have this King of glory grab you, sweep you up into His arms, 26 00:03:09,141 --> 00:03:13,388 take you as His bride; it's life. 27 00:03:13,389 --> 00:03:19,973 And you know the opposite of life is death. 28 00:03:19,974 --> 00:03:34,975 When you compare verse 14 with verse 13, the opposite of life is destruction. 29 00:03:34,976 --> 00:03:39,927 What a word that is. Destruction. 30 00:03:39,928 --> 00:03:43,843 And notice in these verses, our Lord is a Prophet. 31 00:03:43,844 --> 00:03:45,576 He sees the future. 32 00:03:45,577 --> 00:03:52,028 You know, He knew, (you can see it from these words,) 33 00:03:52,029 --> 00:04:04,132 He knew before He ever went to the cross, poured out His life's blood, 34 00:04:04,133 --> 00:04:17,760 He knew that there would only be a few who would ever truly benefit from that death. 35 00:04:17,761 --> 00:04:20,527 Though such a sacrifice had been made, 36 00:04:20,528 --> 00:04:31,105 most of the multitudes of mankind will throw away their one and only hope, 37 00:04:31,106 --> 00:04:36,485 and wander down this road that goes to ruin and destruction. 38 00:04:36,486 --> 00:04:38,386 And you see it there.(P) 39 00:04:38,402 --> 00:04:43,632 The question to ask is, Why do so many do this? Why? 40 00:04:43,633 --> 00:04:48,015 I mean, you would think men and women and boys and girls 41 00:04:48,016 --> 00:04:55,179 would run from this destruction with all haste, with all effort, with all energy. 42 00:04:55,180 --> 00:05:01,774 But they don't. They don't. 43 00:05:01,775 --> 00:05:08,070 Most do not run away from destruction, they run towards it. 44 00:05:08,071 --> 00:05:15,120 Most men will run towards the cliff. 45 00:05:15,121 --> 00:05:18,176 Why? 46 00:05:18,177 --> 00:05:24,999 Well, in verse 13 we see why. 47 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:38,631 The ESV reads this way, "The way is easy that leads to destruction. 48 00:05:38,632 --> 00:05:43,506 The old KJV says this in a rather different language, many of you are familiar with it. 49 00:05:43,507 --> 00:05:54,629 It reads this way, "Broad is the way that leadeth to destruction." 50 00:05:54,630 --> 00:06:02,105 Why the differences? Why would one say "broad" and one would say "easy"? 51 00:06:02,106 --> 00:06:07,889 Well, the KJV is taking the literal meaning of the word. 52 00:06:07,890 --> 00:06:13,006 The ESV is giving it more of the metaphoric expression.(P) 53 00:06:13,007 --> 00:06:24,783 Jesus describes the way to destruction in a way that, 54 00:06:24,784 --> 00:06:33,999 brethren, I want you to get a feel for this word because it's not just the idea of broad. 55 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:36,739 Now it is that. Literally, it's that idea. 56 00:06:36,740 --> 00:06:42,525 But the thing is, in Scripture when this term is used, 57 00:06:42,526 --> 00:06:53,751 it's used to express something not just wide, but something very desirable. 58 00:06:53,752 --> 00:06:55,610 I want you to hear how it's used. 59 00:06:55,611 --> 00:06:56,420 You know what? 60 00:06:56,421 --> 00:07:00,226 This is the only time this word is used anywhere in the New Testament. 61 00:07:00,227 --> 00:07:02,960 And so, basically, you have to understand, 62 00:07:02,961 --> 00:07:06,486 Jesus obviously could have said this word at other times in His ministry, 63 00:07:06,487 --> 00:07:08,568 it's just not recorded for us in the Word. 64 00:07:08,569 --> 00:07:13,781 But I want you to understand that this word is used in the Greek Old Testament. 65 00:07:13,782 --> 00:07:19,806 And you know what? His hearers would have been familiar with these verses; 66 00:07:19,807 --> 00:07:22,476 just as some of you are familiar with these verses.(P) 67 00:07:22,477 --> 00:07:30,063 But I want you to hear how this word "broad" - the broad way, or easy, 68 00:07:30,064 --> 00:07:35,580 I want you to hear how it is used. 69 00:07:35,581 --> 00:07:40,611 In Isaiah 30:23, don't look there but just listen to this, 70 00:07:40,612 --> 00:07:46,687 "And He will give rain for the seed with which you sow the ground, 71 00:07:46,688 --> 00:07:55,501 and bread, the produce of the ground, which will be rich and plenteous." 72 00:07:55,502 --> 00:07:59,206 There is our word - plenteous. 73 00:07:59,207 --> 00:08:00,827 You say, "That doesn't sound like broad." 74 00:08:00,828 --> 00:08:03,314 No, it doesn't. 75 00:08:03,315 --> 00:08:13,771 You see, this word carries the idea of just not a broad, wide, open place; 76 00:08:13,772 --> 00:08:17,534 but it's wide and it's open with abundance. 77 00:08:17,535 --> 00:08:22,224 That's the idea. It's plenteous. 78 00:08:22,225 --> 00:08:25,000 Listen to it used again in Isaiah 33:20-21, 79 00:08:25,001 --> 00:08:31,059 "Behold Zion, the city of our appointed feasts! 80 00:08:31,060 --> 00:08:37,102 Your eyes will see Jerusalem, an untroubled habitation, an immovable tent, 81 00:08:37,102 --> 00:08:41,837 whose stakes will never be plucked up, nor will any of its cords be broken. 82 00:08:41,839 --> 00:08:54,466 But there the LORD in majesty will be for us a place of broad (there's our word) rivers and streams." 83 00:08:54,467 --> 00:08:58,769 Again, the idea is water that is bringing in abundance. 84 00:08:58,770 --> 00:09:01,163 Water is good, it's life-giving. 85 00:09:01,164 --> 00:09:04,964 The idea is, there is richness here, there is blessing here, 86 00:09:04,965 --> 00:09:08,740 there is broadness, there is abundance, there is riches, 87 00:09:08,741 --> 00:09:13,152 there is prosperity, there is freedom. 88 00:09:13,153 --> 00:09:16,226 That's the idea.(P) 89 00:09:16,227 --> 00:09:25,877 Listen to this, Psalm 104:25, "Here is the sea, great and wide (there's our word, "wide") 90 00:09:25,878 --> 00:09:30,788 which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great." 91 00:09:30,789 --> 00:09:39,223 Or this one, (to me this is a very familiar verse, maybe some of you know it well too,) 92 00:09:39,224 --> 00:09:44,651 Psalm 31:8, "You have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; 93 00:09:44,652 --> 00:09:53,932 you have set my feet in a broad place." 94 00:09:53,933 --> 00:09:59,786 Maybe your translation says, "A wide place." 95 00:09:59,787 --> 00:10:09,416 Or perhaps it says something else that basically carries that idea. 96 00:10:09,417 --> 00:10:16,308 But think about that. God has set his feet in a wide place. 97 00:10:16,309 --> 00:10:18,900 You see what's being communicated there. 98 00:10:18,901 --> 00:10:21,299 The idea isn't just an open expanse. 99 00:10:21,300 --> 00:10:24,117 A desert can be an open expanse. That's not the idea. 100 00:10:24,118 --> 00:10:27,895 That's not what the Psalmist is saying when God sets his feet in a wide place. 101 00:10:27,896 --> 00:10:37,255 What he means is it's a place of richness, a place of blessing, a place that's glorious. 102 00:10:37,256 --> 00:10:41,670 And the thing that I want you to understand is that when this word is used, 103 00:10:41,671 --> 00:10:46,672 time and again in the Septuagint, it carries this meaning. 104 00:10:46,673 --> 00:10:51,388 I believe without exception. 105 00:10:51,389 --> 00:10:59,268 And Jesus uses it one time in the Scriptures when we come to the New Testament. 106 00:10:59,269 --> 00:11:05,219 That says something. That speaks something.(P) 107 00:11:05,220 --> 00:11:22,204 Brethren, this wide gate and broad way, you look in there and it is broad. 108 00:11:22,205 --> 00:11:30,049 It is a place that just speaks of freedom and plenty. 109 00:11:30,050 --> 00:11:33,827 That's the idea. 110 00:11:33,828 --> 00:11:36,371 You stick your head in there and you look. 111 00:11:36,372 --> 00:11:38,128 I mean, you stick your head, 112 00:11:38,129 --> 00:11:43,035 (you can see this in Matthew 7:13, you have a gate, it's wide,) 113 00:11:43,036 --> 00:11:46,317 you stick your head in there and you look around; 114 00:11:46,318 --> 00:12:02,106 brethren, it looks good. It looks broad. It's inviting. 115 00:12:03,786 --> 00:12:09,501 Somebody might say, "Well, is this all the godless masses?" 116 00:12:09,502 --> 00:12:13,194 No, you can have your religion in there. 117 00:12:13,195 --> 00:12:15,165 That's okay. You can take it in. 118 00:12:15,166 --> 00:12:17,699 I mean, it's broad. 119 00:12:17,700 --> 00:12:19,700 You can have that. 120 00:12:19,701 --> 00:12:20,719 In fact, you know what? 121 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:26,341 You stick your head in there and you look around long enough, most of the people in there are religious. 122 00:12:26,342 --> 00:12:28,757 Yeah, you can take that in there. 123 00:12:28,758 --> 00:12:34,240 You can see some of these folks, in fact, if you go down a little further in Matthew 7. 124 00:12:34,241 --> 00:12:38,877 You go down to about verse 22, "On that day many (there's the same many) 125 00:12:38,878 --> 00:12:41,786 many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, 126 00:12:41,786 --> 00:12:44,533 cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' 127 00:12:44,533 --> 00:12:48,852 And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness.'"(P) 128 00:12:48,853 --> 00:12:52,253 Oh yeah, lots of people are in there with religion, 129 00:12:52,254 --> 00:12:55,423 lots of people are in there talking about the Lord. 130 00:12:55,424 --> 00:12:58,469 You can go in there with all that. Don't be afraid of that. 131 00:12:58,470 --> 00:13:02,329 You can believe in Jesus and go in there. That's okay. 132 00:13:02,330 --> 00:13:04,686 Lots of people in there are saying, "Lord, Lord." 133 00:13:04,687 --> 00:13:06,462 There's all sort of religious talk. 134 00:13:06,463 --> 00:13:08,558 Lots of people going to church in there. 135 00:13:08,559 --> 00:13:13,037 It's easy. 136 00:13:13,038 --> 00:13:15,965 I mean, you know what? 137 00:13:15,966 --> 00:13:20,943 You can go in there and you can make Jesus into whatever you want Him to be. 138 00:13:20,944 --> 00:13:23,431 You know the nice thing about in there is 139 00:13:23,432 --> 00:13:29,072 the God of the broad way just smiles on you no matter what you do. 140 00:13:29,073 --> 00:13:35,234 He is pleased with you, He is happy with you, no matter how you live your life. 141 00:13:35,235 --> 00:13:37,112 It's easy to live in. 142 00:13:37,113 --> 00:13:39,760 You don't have all the constraints of holiness. 143 00:13:39,761 --> 00:13:42,633 The only rules in there are the ones you want to make. 144 00:13:42,634 --> 00:13:46,698 Oh, you can put yourself in very legalistic situations you want; 145 00:13:46,699 --> 00:13:48,322 or you can throw all that off. 146 00:13:48,323 --> 00:13:52,404 You can try something different, you can go to the right, you can go to the left. 147 00:13:52,405 --> 00:13:54,218 You can chase your dreams there.(P) 148 00:13:54,219 --> 00:13:58,737 You know what? You can live with the hope of eternal life there. 149 00:13:58,738 --> 00:14:03,374 Most of the people in there believe that it's going to be okay with them when they die. 150 00:14:03,375 --> 00:14:06,798 You can live with that hope, 151 00:14:06,799 --> 00:14:11,651 and you can just chase all your dreams, and you can do what you want to do. 152 00:14:11,652 --> 00:14:16,965 And oh, the thing about it is, it's so easy. 153 00:14:16,966 --> 00:14:19,169 You just go with the flow. 154 00:14:19,170 --> 00:14:21,703 You never have to go against the flow. 155 00:14:21,704 --> 00:14:26,863 You can just kick back there and let the current carry you away. 156 00:14:26,864 --> 00:14:34,058 It's all so easy. You can justify everything, I mean, in the name of religion. 157 00:14:34,059 --> 00:14:38,281 You can justify not being nice to people, you can justify holding grudges, 158 00:14:38,282 --> 00:14:43,370 you can justify not paying your bills, you can justify not paying your taxes, 159 00:14:43,371 --> 00:14:53,090 you can justify prejudice. You can justify all that. 160 00:14:53,091 --> 00:14:55,271 You can justify not telling the truth, 161 00:14:55,272 --> 00:15:02,442 you can justify leaving your wife, or staring at other men's wives. 162 00:15:02,443 --> 00:15:08,043 And it's okay, because afterall, in there you can believe that you're saved by grace 163 00:15:08,044 --> 00:15:11,345 and that it doesn't really matter how you live. 164 00:15:11,346 --> 00:15:13,939 There's lots of freedom in there.(P) 165 00:15:13,940 --> 00:15:17,866 You can justify not concerning yourself about the needs of other people. 166 00:15:17,867 --> 00:15:20,668 You can hoard your money to yourself, or you can give it away. 167 00:15:20,668 --> 00:15:24,508 You know what? You can be a nice person. 168 00:15:24,509 --> 00:15:29,185 It's all okay, it's easy, it's free. 169 00:15:29,186 --> 00:15:32,482 You don't have to worry about submitting to any authority. 170 00:15:32,483 --> 00:15:35,368 The only authority in there really is whatever authority you want. 171 00:15:35,369 --> 00:15:38,322 And you can create a God with whatever authority you want him to have, 172 00:15:38,323 --> 00:15:41,136 and you can create the rules. 173 00:15:41,137 --> 00:15:45,324 You can do it your way in there. 174 00:15:45,325 --> 00:15:49,561 I mean, you can fill your life and obsess your life with what you want - 175 00:15:49,562 --> 00:15:53,841 your hobbies, your work, your money, with sports. 176 00:15:53,842 --> 00:15:59,833 You can sit down, be a couch potato, and watch TV the rest of your life; 177 00:15:59,834 --> 00:16:02,200 become obsessed with whatever latest sitcom. 178 00:16:02,201 --> 00:16:09,024 You can do that. You can do that in here and it's just easy. It's easy. 179 00:16:09,025 --> 00:16:12,666 You can go to work and make your money, and come home and tend your garden. 180 00:16:12,667 --> 00:16:17,925 And on Sunday afternoons, you can go mill around at the mall. 181 00:16:17,926 --> 00:16:22,756 I mean, you do what you want to do. 182 00:16:22,757 --> 00:16:25,609 It's very liberating.(P) 183 00:16:25,610 --> 00:16:26,680 You know what? 184 00:16:26,681 --> 00:16:30,473 You go in there and you can just ask all the time, "What do I want to do?" 185 00:16:30,474 --> 00:16:33,165 Now, I recognize there may be limitations. 186 00:16:33,166 --> 00:16:35,445 You may not have as much money as you want to have, 187 00:16:35,446 --> 00:16:39,229 or things may happen to you that you don't want to have happen. 188 00:16:39,230 --> 00:16:45,242 But basically if you want freedom, you can go in there and you can do your own thing. 189 00:16:45,243 --> 00:16:48,028 It's easy.(P) 190 00:16:48,029 --> 00:16:52,550 And there are some in here, you're in there. 191 00:16:52,551 --> 00:16:53,871 And it's pretty easy. 192 00:16:53,872 --> 00:16:56,255 You get aggravated with the other people that are too narrow 193 00:16:56,256 --> 00:16:58,265 but remember the other way is narrow. 194 00:16:58,266 --> 00:17:04,523 Well, you get aggravated with them, you like the easy way. 195 00:17:05,795 --> 00:17:08,923 And you know, the beauty about this is, 196 00:17:08,924 --> 00:17:11,960 you can hang out with the church people on Sunday 197 00:17:11,961 --> 00:17:16,384 and you can hang out with the people of the world on other days of the week. 198 00:17:16,385 --> 00:17:21,815 And you can go on with life thinking it's all going to be okay in the end. 199 00:17:21,816 --> 00:17:27,022 You see, it's pretty easy. Pretty easy. 200 00:17:27,023 --> 00:17:31,528 And then you die.(P) 201 00:17:32,652 --> 00:17:43,235 You see, the thing about this broad, free, prosperous, easy way is this: 202 00:17:43,236 --> 00:17:49,202 It's not a place you can stay. 203 00:17:49,203 --> 00:17:53,147 It's a way to somewhere. 204 00:17:53,148 --> 00:17:57,563 It's not a stopping point, you're only passing through. 205 00:17:57,564 --> 00:18:00,273 And this way goes somewhere. 206 00:18:00,274 --> 00:18:02,243 And you know something about the way? 207 00:18:02,244 --> 00:18:05,339 The way is broad but where it goes is not broad. 208 00:18:05,340 --> 00:18:07,019 There are not many choices there. 209 00:18:07,020 --> 00:18:13,486 Where you go on this broad way is narrow. 210 00:18:13,487 --> 00:18:16,597 It is only broad in the way. 211 00:18:16,598 --> 00:18:20,694 The end, not so much. 212 00:18:20,695 --> 00:18:29,982 What a word! Destruction. Destruction.(P) 213 00:18:29,983 --> 00:18:38,300 I'll tell you what you have to do to really even start to tremble at that word. 214 00:18:38,301 --> 00:18:47,887 You know, you need to go read somewhere like the last five chapters of Job, 215 00:18:47,888 --> 00:18:53,778 where God just, in your estimation, get's bigger and bigger 216 00:18:53,779 --> 00:18:58,639 and bigger and bigger and bigger; 217 00:18:58,640 --> 00:19:04,336 till you begin to realize with Job, This God is a great King. 218 00:19:04,344 --> 00:19:06,355 This God is not to be messed with. 219 00:19:06,356 --> 00:19:07,761 This God is holy. 220 00:19:07,762 --> 00:19:10,091 This God is not a God you speak against. 221 00:19:10,092 --> 00:19:21,889 This God is so big. I mean, we are nothing in His sight. 222 00:19:21,890 --> 00:19:27,351 You begin to realize the enormity of the person of God, 223 00:19:27,367 --> 00:19:36,030 and then you recognize, Destruction. 224 00:19:36,031 --> 00:19:40,392 Destruction! 225 00:19:40,393 --> 00:19:43,793 Who among us can imagine what it means for this God 226 00:19:43,794 --> 00:19:48,660 when He takes upon Himself to eternally destroy us? 227 00:19:48,661 --> 00:19:55,406 The word, eternal, is not here but Paul uses it to the Thessalonians - eternal destruction. 228 00:19:55,407 --> 00:19:59,784 It is not a destruction that is once finished and complete and done. 229 00:19:59,785 --> 00:20:01,580 It is eternal.(P) 230 00:20:01,581 --> 00:20:05,755 You think about destroying a house, you think about destroying an item 231 00:20:05,756 --> 00:20:09,561 where you basically are pulling member after member out of it. 232 00:20:09,562 --> 00:20:11,403 You destroy something in the fire. 233 00:20:11,404 --> 00:20:16,098 But the idea here is that whatever destruction takes place, it's never done. 234 00:20:16,099 --> 00:20:17,220 It's never complete. 235 00:20:17,221 --> 00:20:25,403 This item keeps on going in a way of ruin. 236 00:20:25,404 --> 00:20:34,453 When you think about this God setting Himself to destroy someone for their wicked, sinful ways. 237 00:20:34,454 --> 00:20:40,434 When the God, (who the heaven of heavens cannot contain; 238 00:20:40,435 --> 00:20:48,454 the universe is but a speck; His power is unimaginable,) 239 00:20:48,455 --> 00:20:54,516 when this holy God should set His vengeance, His wrath upon [someone.] 240 00:20:54,517 --> 00:21:01,056 I mean, we are small; such a puny one as us who have raised up with our fist in His face. 241 00:21:01,057 --> 00:21:11,727 And He says, "That's enough, you have dishonored my glory and I am going to hurt you." 242 00:21:11,728 --> 00:21:19,953 Eternal punishment is going to hurt. 243 00:21:19,954 --> 00:21:28,694 And you know, the thing about it is, most people are going to know this reality. 244 00:21:28,695 --> 00:21:34,243 Few there be that miss it. 245 00:21:34,244 --> 00:21:39,015 What a nightmare! What a horror!(P) 246 00:21:39,016 --> 00:21:40,965 Most people just don't even want to go here. 247 00:21:40,965 --> 00:21:45,837 They don't want to think about this a whole lot, even as Christians. 248 00:21:45,838 --> 00:21:49,906 Because even if we are in a place of safety, you start thinking about this too long, 249 00:21:49,907 --> 00:21:55,492 you start thinking about all the people you know, who don't know the Lord. 250 00:21:55,493 --> 00:22:09,072 And you begin to realize the end of the wicked is absolutely terrifying. 251 00:22:09,073 --> 00:22:16,079 Eternity. Eternity. 252 00:22:16,080 --> 00:22:21,492 God eternally loathing the sinner. 253 00:22:21,493 --> 00:22:27,618 You would think men would flee from this at all cost. 254 00:22:27,619 --> 00:22:41,160 And Jesus tells us that the very way that is broad, 255 00:22:41,161 --> 00:22:48,820 that is leading to unspeakable, unimaginable horrors of God's wrath, 256 00:22:48,821 --> 00:22:52,528 that way is crowded. 257 00:22:52,529 --> 00:22:56,333 It's crowded. 258 00:22:56,334 --> 00:23:05,979 Not only crowded, but only few ever take the other way.(P) 259 00:23:05,980 --> 00:23:17,562 Matthew 7:14, "For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, 260 00:23:17,563 --> 00:23:25,561 and those who find it are few." 261 00:23:25,562 --> 00:23:30,455 Our Lord tells us the way is hard. 262 00:23:30,456 --> 00:23:34,477 The NKJV says difficult. 263 00:23:34,478 --> 00:23:37,550 KJV and the NASB say narrow. 264 00:23:37,551 --> 00:23:41,899 But again, narrow is the literal idea 265 00:23:41,900 --> 00:23:50,424 but there is a metaphoric meaning that is often brought out in Scripture. 266 00:23:50,425 --> 00:23:57,460 Yes, it literally can contain the idea of a very compressed way, 267 00:23:57,461 --> 00:24:04,853 but that is not the typical way that the word is used. 268 00:24:04,854 --> 00:24:10,885 Paul uses the word in 2 Corinthians 4:8, listen, "We are afflicted," - there it is: afflicted. 269 00:24:10,886 --> 00:24:12,460 "Well, that doesn't sound like narrow." 270 00:24:12,461 --> 00:24:17,998 No, because there is a metaphoric meaning here. 271 00:24:17,999 --> 00:24:24,100 "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair." 272 00:24:24,101 --> 00:24:32,680 You see, the idea, the metaphoric meaning of the word is hardpressed. 273 00:24:32,681 --> 00:24:39,078 It carries the idea of affliction, distress, trouble.(P) 274 00:24:39,079 --> 00:24:42,533 In fact, you know what's amazing about this word? 275 00:24:42,534 --> 00:25:07,527 This same word group is used to describe the destruction at the end of the broad way. 276 00:25:09,698 --> 00:25:12,231 I mean, basically what Jesus is doing, 277 00:25:12,232 --> 00:25:25,945 He is using a word here that Paul actually takes, (very similar word from the same word group) 278 00:25:25,946 --> 00:25:28,139 and he says, 2 Thessalonians 1:6, 279 00:25:28,140 --> 00:25:33,810 "Since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you" 280 00:25:33,811 --> 00:25:42,460 That word "affliction" there, is the word.(P) 281 00:25:43,796 --> 00:25:52,614 Brethren, you got to see this for what it is. 282 00:25:52,615 --> 00:25:56,588 Our Lord, He came up on that mountain, 283 00:25:56,589 --> 00:26:05,304 He saw the crowds, His disciples came to Him, He sat down. 284 00:26:05,305 --> 00:26:11,399 And He opened His mouth, and He taught them. 285 00:26:11,400 --> 00:26:18,761 I get the idea those disciples were probably right there in the front row. 286 00:26:18,762 --> 00:26:24,381 The crowd moving out from there. 287 00:26:24,382 --> 00:26:31,344 He looks at these men, just as real as you and I sitting here today, 288 00:26:31,345 --> 00:26:44,307 He looks them in the eyeballs and He says, "Men, the way to life is hard." 289 00:26:44,308 --> 00:26:55,290 You know, if some prince who had been pampered his whole life, the prince of Wales, 290 00:26:55,291 --> 00:27:02,390 somebody who's had everything on gold platters, 291 00:27:02,391 --> 00:27:10,278 walked around in soft clothing, their nails professionally done, 292 00:27:10,279 --> 00:27:18,100 if they say that it's a hard way, you'd take that for what it's worth. 293 00:27:18,101 --> 00:27:24,187 Here is the One who went to the cross. 294 00:27:24,188 --> 00:27:27,245 This is the Man of sorrows. 295 00:27:27,246 --> 00:27:34,915 This is a Man such as none have ever suffered like this Man. 296 00:27:34,916 --> 00:27:40,904 Jesus Christ is no pushover. He is no lightweight. 297 00:27:40,905 --> 00:27:49,718 He looks these men dead in the eyeballs, and He said, "The way is hard." 298 00:27:49,719 --> 00:27:54,393 Wow, it must be. 299 00:27:54,394 --> 00:27:59,020 It's going to be hard.(P) 300 00:27:59,021 --> 00:28:07,926 If you are into easy Christianity, that's the other road. 301 00:28:07,927 --> 00:28:13,069 That is not this road. 302 00:28:13,070 --> 00:28:18,586 The other road, that's the easy one. 303 00:28:18,587 --> 00:28:23,606 This one is not easy. 304 00:28:26,036 --> 00:28:28,581 I mean, so what is this? 305 00:28:28,582 --> 00:28:35,108 "Common, if my sins are forgiven, that isn't hard, is it? 306 00:28:35,109 --> 00:28:40,124 I mean, if I have been born again, that's not difficult, is it? 307 00:28:40,125 --> 00:28:45,936 If I have a Savior, I thought life got easy." 308 00:28:49,558 --> 00:29:01,589 Well, as a matter of fact, the Christian life is difficult to the extreme. 309 00:29:04,917 --> 00:29:09,580 I was listening, last night as I drifted off to sleep, 310 00:29:09,589 --> 00:29:15,911 I was listening to the last chapters of Pilgrim's Progress. 311 00:29:15,919 --> 00:29:21,710 And again, this morning. The audio. 312 00:29:23,944 --> 00:29:27,109 I am always impressed. 313 00:29:27,110 --> 00:29:37,309 I don't know, maybe impressed is probably not the right word, but I take note. 314 00:29:37,310 --> 00:29:42,795 When Pilgrim and Hopeful, there they are, 315 00:29:42,796 --> 00:29:47,460 they are at the Delectable Mountains and the shepherds are there. 316 00:29:47,461 --> 00:29:53,770 And the two pilgrims are discussing among themselves. 317 00:29:53,771 --> 00:29:59,708 They said one to another, "We had need to cry to the strong for strength." 318 00:29:59,709 --> 00:30:10,645 And the shepherds say, "Ay, and you will have need to use it when you have it too." 319 00:30:12,741 --> 00:30:16,848 It's like, Yeah, God is going to give you strength, 320 00:30:16,849 --> 00:30:23,622 but you can be sure you're going to need every ounce of it He gives you to make it to the end.(P) 321 00:30:23,623 --> 00:30:34,674 Oh yeah, you're supported underneath by the everlasting arms, 322 00:30:37,083 --> 00:30:44,251 but you are going to have to fight and claw and scratch and work out your salvation. 323 00:30:44,252 --> 00:30:50,035 There are going to be such powers as to resist you in this world. 324 00:30:50,036 --> 00:30:55,788 O if God's arms were not underneath you, you would fail in a moment. 325 00:30:55,789 --> 00:31:01,329 It will press you, it will squeeze you, it will make you cry, 326 00:31:01,330 --> 00:31:07,824 brethren it will make you sigh, it will break you. 327 00:31:09,660 --> 00:31:11,590 Have you ever noticed? 328 00:31:11,591 --> 00:31:18,557 I mentioned this not too long ago, but I'll mention it again. 329 00:31:18,558 --> 00:31:25,801 We heard about Bunyan in the first hour. 330 00:31:25,802 --> 00:31:33,292 John Bunyan wrote his Pilgrim's Progress, and if you really take note, 331 00:31:33,293 --> 00:31:44,084 City of Destruction; into the Slough of Despond; to the worldly wise men; to Mount Sinai; 332 00:31:44,085 --> 00:31:51,514 to the Gate where the arrows are whizzing past his ear from Apollyon's battlement; 333 00:31:51,515 --> 00:32:02,139 he gets through, you have Hill of Difficulty, loses his scroll, has to backtrack, and then there's lions. 334 00:32:02,140 --> 00:32:05,136 You keep going on, you've got Vanity Fair, 335 00:32:05,137 --> 00:32:08,528 you got the Valley of the Shadow of Death, he's got the Valley of Humiliation, 336 00:32:08,529 --> 00:32:13,153 he's got to do battle with Apollyon.(P) 337 00:32:13,154 --> 00:32:18,258 You begin to look at Bunyan's assessment of the Christian life 338 00:32:18,259 --> 00:32:26,477 and it's like, out of the frying pan into the fire. 339 00:32:26,477 --> 00:32:35,712 For a good reason, because that accurately describes the Christian life. 340 00:32:35,713 --> 00:32:47,816 O, there's some places of solace and rest, but it seems like the one outnumbered the other.(P) 341 00:32:50,917 --> 00:32:57,623 Tozer said this in his Pursuit of God, 342 00:32:57,624 --> 00:33:07,682 he said, "The way to deeper knowledge of God is through the lonely valleys of soul poverty 343 00:33:07,683 --> 00:33:12,495 and abnegation of all things." 344 00:33:12,496 --> 00:33:18,018 You see what he is saying? What's the abnegation of all things? 345 00:33:18,019 --> 00:33:22,462 It means you get stripped. 346 00:33:23,702 --> 00:33:28,612 You see brethren, the thing about it is, 347 00:33:28,613 --> 00:33:39,868 you peek your head in at the narrow gate, there's not a lot of laughter in there. 348 00:33:39,869 --> 00:33:44,192 There is sorrow in there. 349 00:33:44,193 --> 00:33:47,434 There is some worship and there's some song. 350 00:33:47,435 --> 00:33:55,593 There is sound of clippers - the Gardener's shears. 351 00:33:55,594 --> 00:34:05,072 Wow, look at the people that went in there, they are getting all sorts of stuff chopped off. 352 00:34:05,073 --> 00:34:09,777 If you have heard the audio version of Pilgrim's Progress, 353 00:34:09,779 --> 00:34:14,978 they follow the Flatterer, and they get whipped 354 00:34:14,980 --> 00:34:16,313 [whipping sound]. 355 00:34:16,315 --> 00:34:25,071 You stick your head in there, there's sounds of the rod. 356 00:34:26,539 --> 00:34:30,291 You ever been around a blast furnace? 357 00:34:30,292 --> 00:34:41,543 Stick your ear to the narrow gate, you're going to hear the sound of the Refiner's fire in there.(P) 358 00:34:41,545 --> 00:34:48,471 Brethren, I'll tell you this (David is going to go into 1 Peter). 359 00:34:49,609 --> 00:35:02,029 Peter says, "If the righteous will scarcely be saved, what of all these ungodly people?" 360 00:35:02,030 --> 00:35:08,666 "What do you mean if the righteous will scarcely be saved?" 361 00:35:08,667 --> 00:35:12,099 With difficulty. 362 00:35:13,397 --> 00:35:19,673 The way is hard. You know why it's hard? 363 00:35:19,674 --> 00:35:26,209 What Tozer said - if you're going to get to know God, deeper knowledge of God, 364 00:35:26,210 --> 00:35:30,595 lonely valleys of the soul. 365 00:35:30,596 --> 00:35:35,898 You know what God does? He takes you out to the lonely valley. 366 00:35:35,899 --> 00:35:44,417 Brethren, it was no mirage when Jesus Christ went to the rich young ruler and said, "I want it all. 367 00:35:44,418 --> 00:35:47,825 All of it."(P) 368 00:35:47,826 --> 00:35:59,036 You go in that narrow way, you're going to get stripped. 369 00:36:00,455 --> 00:36:05,224 You are going to have taken from you every idol. 370 00:36:05,225 --> 00:36:09,858 And it is going to be tore away from you; it is going to be sheared from you; 371 00:36:09,859 --> 00:36:12,022 it is going to be disciplined from you, 372 00:36:12,038 --> 00:36:16,977 and it is going to be purged from you in the Refiner's fire. 373 00:36:16,978 --> 00:36:20,303 It is a hard way. 374 00:36:20,304 --> 00:36:25,548 Peter says, "Scarcely saved." 375 00:36:25,549 --> 00:36:28,952 You want to take that with much difficulty. It is difficult. 376 00:36:28,953 --> 00:36:32,338 You strive to enter in thereat. 377 00:36:32,339 --> 00:36:34,383 Few there be that find it. 378 00:36:34,384 --> 00:36:39,255 It is with difficulty. 379 00:36:39,256 --> 00:36:44,381 People fall out. People fall out. 380 00:36:44,382 --> 00:36:49,085 All the time, people fall out. 381 00:36:49,086 --> 00:36:58,242 Jesus Christ with that rich young ruler, the idea's to strip him naked.(P) 382 00:36:59,812 --> 00:37:07,047 Brethren, you know why it's hard? You know why it's hard in there? 383 00:37:07,048 --> 00:37:11,418 Because there is death in there. 384 00:37:11,419 --> 00:37:17,495 Jesus said it, time and again. We tend not to hear Him. 385 00:37:17,496 --> 00:37:22,748 You know, you get the idea He probably says things as often as He says them, 386 00:37:22,749 --> 00:37:26,558 certain things more than others, because we tend not to hear them. 387 00:37:26,559 --> 00:37:31,981 But how often did our Lord come along and say, you have it in Matthew 10, 388 00:37:31,981 --> 00:37:37,366 "Whoever finds his life will lose it; whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." 389 00:37:37,367 --> 00:37:40,668 Again, Matthew 16, "Whoever would save his life will lose it; 390 00:37:40,669 --> 00:37:43,272 whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." 391 00:37:43,273 --> 00:37:49,900 You have it in Mark 8, Luke 17, "Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it; 392 00:37:49,901 --> 00:37:56,203 whoever loses his life will keep it." 393 00:37:56,204 --> 00:38:00,961 Brethren, it's a place of death. 394 00:38:01,884 --> 00:38:07,874 That's why it's hard. 395 00:38:07,875 --> 00:38:21,333 Because when you surrender to Christ, Christ is militant about turning you into His likeness. 396 00:38:21,334 --> 00:38:23,884 And there is so much in you that must die. 397 00:38:23,885 --> 00:38:26,445 It is a place of death, and it is a place that's hard, 398 00:38:26,446 --> 00:38:33,192 and it's a place that's going to confront us.(P) 399 00:38:33,193 --> 00:38:35,400 Listen to Tozer again, 400 00:38:35,401 --> 00:38:43,005 "There is within the human heart, a tough fibrous root of fallen life 401 00:38:43,006 --> 00:38:46,655 whose nature is to possess; always to possess. 402 00:38:46,656 --> 00:38:52,127 It covets things with a deep and fierce passion. 403 00:38:52,128 --> 00:38:56,311 The pronouns "my" and "mine" look innocent enough in print, 404 00:38:56,312 --> 00:38:59,624 but their constant and universal use is significant. 405 00:38:59,625 --> 00:39:02,999 They express the real nature of the old Adamic man 406 00:39:03,000 --> 00:39:05,949 better than a thousand volumes of theology could do. 407 00:39:05,950 --> 00:39:09,520 They are verbal symptoms of our deep disease. 408 00:39:09,521 --> 00:39:13,963 The roots of our hearts have grown down into things, 409 00:39:13,964 --> 00:39:21,614 and we dare not pull up one rootlet lest we die."(P) 410 00:39:23,616 --> 00:39:36,162 Brethren, you see, the thing is that when God saves us, He means for all of us to be on the altar. 411 00:39:36,163 --> 00:39:38,338 All of us. 412 00:39:38,339 --> 00:39:42,065 I don't say all of us numerically speaking. 413 00:39:42,066 --> 00:39:45,492 All of You. 414 00:39:45,493 --> 00:39:48,043 All. 415 00:39:48,044 --> 00:39:56,519 All your plans, and all your desires, and all your life. 416 00:39:56,520 --> 00:40:02,451 God will not allow His reign to be challenged. 417 00:40:02,452 --> 00:40:04,424 And brethren, you and I know it. 418 00:40:04,425 --> 00:40:21,291 Our wills are strong, and our desire to do what we want to do is strong.(P) 419 00:40:21,292 --> 00:40:29,408 Brethren, Christianity is not about simply getting our theology right. 420 00:40:29,409 --> 00:40:35,809 We can get that idea you know, "I got to believe right. I got all my doctrine down." 421 00:40:35,810 --> 00:40:44,431 Brethren, what Jesus tells us over and over again is, if you are going to follow Me, 422 00:40:44,432 --> 00:40:49,011 I am going to take you on a death path. 423 00:40:49,012 --> 00:40:54,834 There is a cross to carry. 424 00:40:54,835 --> 00:40:59,747 And you know, we can look at it and say, "Well, not really. Not really. 425 00:40:59,748 --> 00:41:12,347 I don't literally have to carry a cross out there to Golgotha and actually be crucified." 426 00:41:12,348 --> 00:41:14,938 But I would just ask you this: 427 00:41:14,939 --> 00:41:22,584 Would our Lord use the imagery if what He really meant is the Christian life is easy? 428 00:41:22,585 --> 00:41:34,902 Or would He probably use that if really the Christian life was going to be that hard. 429 00:41:38,563 --> 00:41:42,383 It's hard to die.(P) 430 00:41:42,384 --> 00:41:48,854 Tozer says this, (I plucked these three quotes from him, I thought they were really good. 431 00:41:48,855 --> 00:41:56,176 As I was going through this, I was reminded that he had said something,) 432 00:41:56,177 --> 00:42:02,572 he says, "The ancient curse will not go out painlessly. 433 00:42:02,573 --> 00:42:08,536 The tough old miser within us will not lie down and die in obedience to our command. 434 00:42:08,537 --> 00:42:13,394 He must be torn out of our heart like a plant from the soil; 435 00:42:13,395 --> 00:42:19,513 he must be extracted in agony and blood like a tooth from the jaw. 436 00:42:19,514 --> 00:42:23,460 He must be expelled from our soul by violence 437 00:42:23,461 --> 00:42:27,795 as Christ expelled the money changers from the temple. 438 00:42:27,796 --> 00:42:36,680 And we shall need to steel ourselves against his piteous begging." 439 00:42:38,847 --> 00:42:45,294 Maybe coming off a week of prayer and fasting, you might even know about that piteous begging. 440 00:42:45,295 --> 00:42:48,496 I don't need to see a show of hands, but if I were to ask, 441 00:42:48,497 --> 00:42:52,341 How many of you determined to fast certain days, certain hours, certain meals, 442 00:42:52,342 --> 00:42:54,997 and in the end you didn't. 443 00:42:54,998 --> 00:42:59,019 Maybe you did some but not as much as you originally thought so. 444 00:42:59,020 --> 00:43:06,341 Why? Piteous begging from within. 445 00:43:06,342 --> 00:43:12,499 "O let me have food, let me have food." 446 00:43:17,932 --> 00:43:25,544 He says, "We shall need to steel ourselves against his piteous begging 447 00:43:25,545 --> 00:43:29,285 (his - your own is what he is talking about,) 448 00:43:29,286 --> 00:43:39,779 to recognize it as springing out of self-pity, one of the most reprehensible sins of the human heart."(P) 449 00:43:39,780 --> 00:43:43,186 Brethren, here is the thing. 450 00:43:43,187 --> 00:43:47,024 You be like Don Johnson, you come through the narrow gate, 451 00:43:47,025 --> 00:43:53,889 he says, "Laying on the grass and just looking up the sky, 452 00:43:53,890 --> 00:44:01,584 and thinking the Christian life was just going to be one baptism of the Spirit after another." 453 00:44:01,585 --> 00:44:07,040 And then all hell broke loose against him. 454 00:44:07,041 --> 00:44:15,665 You see, the thing about the Christian life is the testing. 455 00:44:15,666 --> 00:44:17,986 The testing is coming. 456 00:44:17,987 --> 00:44:20,359 And it doesn't just come once. 457 00:44:20,360 --> 00:44:24,091 The Refiner's fire doesn't just come once. 458 00:44:24,092 --> 00:44:26,805 Brethren, like I say, you put your ear to the narrow gate, 459 00:44:26,806 --> 00:44:29,985 the sound of the blast furnace in there, the sound of the shears. 460 00:44:29,986 --> 00:44:33,914 And those shears don't lie dormant for long. 461 00:44:33,915 --> 00:44:40,757 The sound of the rod. That's the sound in there.(P) 462 00:44:40,758 --> 00:44:51,608 O brethren, but, the consolation here is, our Father carries the rod. 463 00:44:51,609 --> 00:44:56,187 Our Redeemer fires the fires. 464 00:44:56,188 --> 00:45:03,732 It's the Gardener who bears the shears, and He means to produce fruitfulness. 465 00:45:03,733 --> 00:45:07,087 Brethren, it's good but it's hard. 466 00:45:07,088 --> 00:45:12,385 Dying is hard. 467 00:45:12,386 --> 00:45:15,566 And there is that root that to tear it out, 468 00:45:15,567 --> 00:45:20,119 brethren, there are the things that you think, "I can't live without that; 469 00:45:20,120 --> 00:45:21,718 I can't go on without that." 470 00:45:21,719 --> 00:45:27,970 And be sure, if you think that, God is going to rip it out! 471 00:45:27,971 --> 00:45:29,155 The testing is coming. 472 00:45:29,156 --> 00:45:36,782 And it will feel like it's tearing part of you out, but God will not have His reign challenged. 473 00:45:36,783 --> 00:45:41,330 He will have all of you. He will have your heart. 474 00:45:41,331 --> 00:45:46,735 It's a hard way. It's a hard way. 475 00:45:46,736 --> 00:45:49,469 And few there be that find it. 476 00:45:49,470 --> 00:45:54,767 But you see, brethren, this is what real repentance is all about. 477 00:45:54,768 --> 00:46:05,824 It's about, "Okay, Lord, I surrender. I trust you."(P) 478 00:46:07,538 --> 00:46:13,840 It is amazing to me, I mean, you really want to think about this. 479 00:46:13,841 --> 00:46:17,169 I think there is vast significance in this. 480 00:46:17,170 --> 00:46:24,265 Twice that I can find, very specifically. 481 00:46:24,266 --> 00:46:35,224 Once in Luke 9, Jesus says this, "The Son of Man must suffer many things 482 00:46:35,225 --> 00:46:43,575 and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, 483 00:46:43,576 --> 00:46:47,279 and on the third day be raised." 484 00:46:47,280 --> 00:46:49,318 You know what's interesting? 485 00:46:49,319 --> 00:46:56,092 He would say this, and then He would look to the people He is saying this to 486 00:46:56,093 --> 00:47:06,007 and He would say this, "Now you got that in your mind, you got my suffering in your ears, 487 00:47:06,008 --> 00:47:09,259 you're thinking about what I just said, 488 00:47:09,260 --> 00:47:20,425 Ok let me tell you this: If you would be saved by Me, if anyone will follow Me, 489 00:47:20,426 --> 00:47:25,536 if anyone would come after Me," 490 00:47:25,537 --> 00:47:32,390 You hear that? Come after Me. 491 00:47:32,391 --> 00:47:37,198 Guess what happens when you peek your eyes in at the narrow gate? 492 00:47:37,199 --> 00:47:41,590 You see footsteps. 493 00:47:41,591 --> 00:47:45,744 That's the way our Lord went. 494 00:47:45,745 --> 00:47:52,278 If you would go that way, He says, "Let him deny himself." 495 00:47:52,279 --> 00:47:55,666 O, we don't like to deny ourselves. 496 00:47:55,667 --> 00:48:01,592 Did you like, I mean, those of you that fasted? 497 00:48:01,593 --> 00:48:03,668 "Deny yourself." 498 00:48:03,669 --> 00:48:09,293 And it's not just food, it's everything. It's everything. 499 00:48:09,294 --> 00:48:15,788 That doesn't mean that there aren't any joys in this life, 500 00:48:15,789 --> 00:48:19,682 but the moment you love something more than Him, He is coming for it. 501 00:48:19,683 --> 00:48:23,675 He is coming for it.(P) 502 00:48:23,676 --> 00:48:29,827 Deny yourself. It's a path of self-denial. 503 00:48:29,828 --> 00:48:36,277 You get schooled in this. 504 00:48:36,278 --> 00:48:41,029 The school of renunciation. 505 00:48:41,030 --> 00:48:49,223 You get schooled in saying, "But Lord, I like this." 506 00:48:50,979 --> 00:48:59,346 "Yeah, I know you do. I want that." 507 00:49:02,134 --> 00:49:11,018 Luke 9:23-24, "Let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. 508 00:49:11,019 --> 00:49:18,336 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it." 509 00:49:18,337 --> 00:49:25,141 You see, you've got to die. You've got to lose your life. 510 00:49:30,858 --> 00:49:40,486 I mean, look, you can only go in that way if you really trust Him. 511 00:49:40,487 --> 00:49:48,952 Because in that way, just like Bunyan portrayed, there is lonely valleys. 512 00:49:48,953 --> 00:49:57,943 He would take you through the hardest things that you can imagine. 513 00:49:57,944 --> 00:50:09,199 Things that you would cry piteously, as Tozer talked about. 514 00:50:09,200 --> 00:50:17,998 He is going to lead you to your death in there. He is going to strip you. 515 00:50:17,999 --> 00:50:24,019 Brethren, He does purify the sons of Levi in the Refiner's fire.(P) 516 00:50:24,020 --> 00:50:27,858 Unlike the other way, there is not a lot of freedom in there. 517 00:50:27,859 --> 00:50:32,924 You are free in Christ definitely. 518 00:50:32,925 --> 00:50:40,301 When I say there is not a lot of freedom, you're bound by God's will. 519 00:50:40,302 --> 00:50:44,878 That's really the issue: My will, His will. 520 00:50:44,879 --> 00:50:49,763 That's where the tension is. 521 00:50:49,764 --> 00:50:56,067 And I can tell you God is not in the business of taking you where you want to go. 522 00:50:56,068 --> 00:50:58,868 It's kinda like our Lord's words to Peter, 523 00:50:58,869 --> 00:51:01,050 "Peter, you're going to be led; 524 00:51:01,051 --> 00:51:04,962 others are going to dress you and they are going to lead you, 525 00:51:04,963 --> 00:51:08,052 they are going to take you somewhere where you don't want to go." 526 00:51:08,053 --> 00:51:13,169 But he told him by what means, what death he was going to glorify the Lord. 527 00:51:13,170 --> 00:51:15,503 You see, that's bringing glory to God. 528 00:51:15,504 --> 00:51:20,312 That's where God wants him to go.(P) 529 00:51:20,313 --> 00:51:25,109 In John 12:23, Jesus answered them, "The hour has come," - 530 00:51:25,110 --> 00:51:28,356 this is the second place where you get this kind of thing. 531 00:51:28,357 --> 00:51:39,830 "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified." 532 00:51:39,831 --> 00:51:42,308 His hour of death was at hand. 533 00:51:42,309 --> 00:51:55,545 "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; 534 00:51:55,546 --> 00:51:59,394 but if it dies, it bears much fruit." 535 00:51:59,395 --> 00:52:01,431 You see what He does here again? 536 00:52:01,432 --> 00:52:14,655 He goes from His own suffering to looking at those who contemplate following Him, 537 00:52:14,656 --> 00:52:19,135 already following Him, 538 00:52:21,627 --> 00:52:30,663 and He says, "Look, I'm telling you what is going to happen to Me, because I'm telling you that, 539 00:52:30,664 --> 00:52:37,564 don't think that if you're going to be a follower of Me that I am the only one that suffers. 540 00:52:37,565 --> 00:52:41,465 It's not the case. 541 00:52:41,466 --> 00:52:46,165 You have to follow Me. 542 00:52:46,166 --> 00:52:48,461 Follow." 543 00:52:48,462 --> 00:52:50,940 John 12:25, "Whoever loves his life loses it, 544 00:52:50,941 --> 00:52:54,458 and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life." 545 00:52:54,459 --> 00:53:03,267 You have to hate your life in this world, all you are, when you come to this narrow gate.(P) 546 00:53:03,268 --> 00:53:09,504 Brethren, God doesn't ask you to change yourself. 547 00:53:09,505 --> 00:53:14,537 But you see, you only go in there if you believe Jesus Christ is really going to get you to the end. 548 00:53:14,538 --> 00:53:23,264 You only go in there if you really believe that having Him and His salvation is worth it. 549 00:53:23,272 --> 00:53:30,733 Jesus said, "Count the cost. The way is hard." 550 00:53:33,272 --> 00:53:36,218 And, I mean, at the end is eternal life. 551 00:53:36,219 --> 00:53:38,791 Once you have that, you can look back over your shoulder and say, 552 00:53:38,792 --> 00:53:43,721 "Oooh, momentary light affliction." 553 00:53:43,722 --> 00:53:50,427 But when you are in it, it doesn't seem momentary or light. 554 00:53:50,428 --> 00:53:59,055 "If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me." 555 00:54:01,907 --> 00:54:08,092 Put away the idea of any kind of Christianity that doesn't have to follow Christ. 556 00:54:08,093 --> 00:54:10,398 It's not real. 557 00:54:10,399 --> 00:54:17,120 That Christianity is in the other way.(P) 558 00:54:17,121 --> 00:54:23,155 You know, I don't know what 2016 is going to bring specifically, 559 00:54:23,156 --> 00:54:34,401 but I know for the true Christian, what it's going to bring, generally, is going to be hard. 560 00:54:34,402 --> 00:54:38,069 God is going to take His people up hills of difficulty. 561 00:54:38,070 --> 00:54:40,447 We live in Vanity Fair. 562 00:54:40,448 --> 00:54:43,339 Some of you will be thrown into Doubting Castle. 563 00:54:43,340 --> 00:54:45,503 Your assurance may be strong now, 564 00:54:45,504 --> 00:54:50,571 you would come under such dark clouds of despair and unbelief 565 00:54:50,572 --> 00:54:57,209 that you cannot even imagine right now, perhaps. 566 00:54:57,210 --> 00:55:06,960 The snares, the trials, they are there. 567 00:55:06,961 --> 00:55:13,010 You will have things to overcome. 568 00:55:13,011 --> 00:55:15,224 You've got to follow. 569 00:55:15,225 --> 00:55:21,614 As brother Andy said years ago when he was here, "There's two crosses. 570 00:55:21,615 --> 00:55:27,228 Christ had His upon which our atonement is made, and you have yours." 571 00:55:27,229 --> 00:55:34,425 And be certain, God will require you to carry it.(P) 572 00:55:34,426 --> 00:55:40,865 Just think about the reality of Christ's cross, you know how it was for Him, 573 00:55:40,866 --> 00:55:49,832 "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; 574 00:55:49,833 --> 00:55:54,164 nevertheless, not My will but Thine be done." 575 00:55:54,165 --> 00:55:59,948 You see brethren, that's how it is for us. 576 00:55:59,949 --> 00:56:05,819 Every day you are called upon to deny yourself, carry that cross and die, 577 00:56:05,820 --> 00:56:14,919 that would be where you're at. 578 00:56:14,920 --> 00:56:19,295 That's really the Christian life. 579 00:56:19,296 --> 00:56:21,580 "Lord, I don't want to carry this." 580 00:56:21,581 --> 00:56:24,351 Nobody wants to carry the cross. 581 00:56:24,352 --> 00:56:27,961 I mean, it's not delightful, it's not enjoyable. 582 00:56:27,962 --> 00:56:32,074 It wasn't for our Lord, nevertheless He went that way. 583 00:56:32,075 --> 00:56:34,343 He doesn't expect that it's going to be (delightful) for us. 584 00:56:34,344 --> 00:56:39,586 Brethren, it is for a season, and there is life at the end. 585 00:56:39,587 --> 00:56:46,461 There is "Well done, good and faithful servant" at the end; there is glory at the end. 586 00:56:46,462 --> 00:56:54,765 But the thing about it is, Not my will, but Thine. 587 00:56:54,766 --> 00:56:57,720 You see, it's not a wide place. 588 00:56:57,721 --> 00:57:02,649 It's very narrow: Thy will. 589 00:57:02,650 --> 00:57:10,652 No free spirits here, that's in the other way.(P) 590 00:57:10,653 --> 00:57:15,439 Just in a few verses Jesus says, "Not everybody that says, 'Lord Lord, 591 00:57:15,440 --> 00:57:18,267 but those who do the will of the Father.'" 592 00:57:18,268 --> 00:57:21,078 You see, that's the real issue. 593 00:57:21,079 --> 00:57:25,548 And it is the will of the Father that you go through the shears, 594 00:57:25,549 --> 00:57:34,103 and the fire, and the rod, with that crossbeam on your shoulders. 595 00:57:34,104 --> 00:57:40,873 And every step, you're saying, "Lord, if it's Your will, please deliver me from this; 596 00:57:40,874 --> 00:57:46,620 take me out, take me out, take me out, take me out." 597 00:57:46,621 --> 00:57:50,739 And you know what? Sometimes He will. 598 00:57:50,740 --> 00:58:02,714 But, more often than not, the way that our Lord walked is the way you're going to walk. 599 00:58:02,715 --> 00:58:10,806 What glory there is to God when you say, "Not my will, but Thine. 600 00:58:10,807 --> 00:58:17,455 Having You is more important to me than escaping this cross. 601 00:58:17,456 --> 00:58:19,429 Your will be done." 602 00:58:19,430 --> 00:58:21,646 And He promises, "I'll never leave you nor forsake you." 603 00:58:21,647 --> 00:58:25,469 There is going to be grace. 604 00:58:25,470 --> 00:58:31,562 But brethren, be sure, those of you, count the cost. 605 00:58:31,563 --> 00:58:35,585 Count the cost. 606 00:58:35,586 --> 00:58:37,733 You know why people don't go in the narrow way? 607 00:58:37,734 --> 00:58:40,457 There is really only one reason. 608 00:58:40,458 --> 00:58:45,661 It's only one thing that makes it hard to go in there. 609 00:58:45,662 --> 00:58:49,294 You love your sin. 610 00:58:49,295 --> 00:58:54,683 You love your freedom.(P) 611 00:58:54,684 --> 00:58:57,884 The other way looks really good but it ends bad. 612 00:58:57,885 --> 00:59:01,486 This way looks really bad. 613 00:59:01,487 --> 00:59:13,632 It's hard, but oh, what glory is at the end. 614 00:59:16,513 --> 00:59:20,580 Be sure, if you go in there, lots of trips to Mount Moriah. 615 00:59:20,581 --> 00:59:25,961 You know what I mean by that? 616 00:59:25,969 --> 00:59:33,546 "Abraham, I want you to sacrifice Isaac." 617 00:59:33,547 --> 00:59:47,414 "Oh, Isaac? This is the son I've been waiting for for how long? This is my heir." 618 00:59:47,415 --> 00:59:53,155 "Yeah, you take him up to Mount Moriah."(P) 619 00:59:53,156 --> 01:00:02,406 Brethren, the narrow way is a path of ten thousand deaths, 620 01:00:02,407 --> 01:00:12,412 but our Lord came not to destroy but to save. 621 01:00:12,413 --> 01:00:16,976 Brethren, what we have to recognize is this is salvation. 622 01:00:16,977 --> 01:00:18,583 God isn't destroying you. 623 01:00:18,584 --> 01:00:23,384 Did you hear? He says the pruning shears are there to make you fruitful. 624 01:00:23,385 --> 01:00:26,695 The fire is there to make you pure. 625 01:00:26,696 --> 01:00:30,474 The rod is there to produce righteousness. 626 01:00:30,475 --> 01:00:34,031 Brethren, this is salvation. 627 01:00:34,032 --> 01:00:41,597 What we fail to really understand is how much we need to be saved from. 628 01:00:41,598 --> 01:00:46,565 How much that just seems like it's part and parcel of ourselves we need to be saved from. 629 01:00:46,566 --> 01:00:52,171 How many of those deep rooted things that are just part of ourselves have to be torn away, 630 01:00:52,172 --> 01:00:54,838 I mean, there's blood, like Tozer says. 631 01:00:54,839 --> 01:00:57,802 Like pulling teeth or maybe chopping off arms. 632 01:00:57,803 --> 01:00:59,152 It's like that. 633 01:00:59,153 --> 01:01:01,348 But it's good. 634 01:01:01,349 --> 01:01:04,135 He wouldn't take us down this road if it wasn't good. 635 01:01:04,136 --> 01:01:09,517 You know, one of the things we don't recognize is how lost we are when we come to Him to be saved. 636 01:01:09,518 --> 01:01:12,911 You know what that narrow way is doing? 637 01:01:12,912 --> 01:01:16,522 It's killing your lostness. 638 01:01:16,523 --> 01:01:23,900 It's killing your unchristlikeness.(P) 639 01:01:23,901 --> 01:01:30,333 You see, they call His name Jesus because He will save His people from their sin. 640 01:01:30,334 --> 01:01:33,910 If you're going this way, it's because you want to be saved from your sin, 641 01:01:33,911 --> 01:01:40,327 but bank on it, He is going to save you from things you didn't think you need to be saved from. 642 01:01:40,328 --> 01:01:46,278 We have a lot of ignorance; a lot of blindness; 643 01:01:46,279 --> 01:01:53,813 a lot of things in our life that we say, "Well, that's not sin." 644 01:01:53,814 --> 01:01:59,005 You see, He knows our heart so much better than we do. 645 01:01:59,006 --> 01:02:01,490 He knows what we need.(P) 646 01:02:01,491 --> 01:02:07,548 Brethren, 2016 is before us. 647 01:02:07,549 --> 01:02:11,690 This way is hard. 648 01:02:11,691 --> 01:02:18,977 But I'll tell you, if you've got eyes to see, maybe I'll go to Pilgrim's Progress again, 649 01:02:18,978 --> 01:02:22,115 they were on those Delectable Mountains 650 01:02:22,116 --> 01:02:25,469 and they tried to see the Celestial City off in the distance, 651 01:02:25,470 --> 01:02:28,830 and their hands were shaking and they couldn't see it very well. 652 01:02:28,831 --> 01:02:30,494 But it's out there. 653 01:02:30,495 --> 01:02:39,033 The end, brethren, the end, "For those who overcome," Oh, what promises there are. 654 01:02:39,034 --> 01:02:43,377 And He has promised to be there with us. He has promised. 655 01:02:43,378 --> 01:02:51,390 It gets dark, the enemy comes upon us, and He hides His face. 656 01:02:51,391 --> 01:02:53,266 Difficult seasons. 657 01:02:53,267 --> 01:02:55,986 But you know what? We have His promise. 658 01:02:55,987 --> 01:03:04,883 You walk these lonely valleys with all the promises of God. 659 01:03:04,884 --> 01:03:11,014 You walk this path in faith, not by sight. 660 01:03:11,015 --> 01:03:15,360 You believe He is there, He will not leave you, He is going to help you, 661 01:03:15,361 --> 01:03:17,913 He is going to bring good from this. 662 01:03:17,914 --> 01:03:21,509 He is always going to give you a way out of your trials and your suffering; 663 01:03:21,510 --> 01:03:25,368 a way, a path that you can walk without falling into sin. 664 01:03:25,369 --> 01:03:30,494 Every temptation that comes, there is a way you can walk.(P) 665 01:03:30,495 --> 01:03:34,306 Brethren, it's going too be difficult, I don't doubt. 666 01:03:34,307 --> 01:03:44,115 But, brethren, resting on Him; we rest on Him to take us through. 667 01:03:44,116 --> 01:03:49,492 Brethren, He is a Savior, and He is in the business of saving us, 668 01:03:49,493 --> 01:03:50,980 if you can see it for that. 669 01:03:50,981 --> 01:03:58,128 Whatever difficulties may be upon us, there is a way that leads to eternal life. 670 01:03:58,129 --> 01:04:01,435 You can't bypass it. 671 01:04:01,436 --> 01:04:04,873 We wish we could. We wish we could go around it. 672 01:04:04,874 --> 01:04:10,965 Some of us actually do get the fast path. 673 01:04:10,966 --> 01:04:17,099 You know, we, maybe in this past week, remembered the five fallen missionaries from Ecuador. 674 01:04:17,100 --> 01:04:20,670 Some do get on the fast path. 675 01:04:20,671 --> 01:04:24,133 But for most of us, that's not the case.(P) 676 01:04:24,134 --> 01:04:29,047 Some like Enoch or Elijah, maybe their time was cut short 677 01:04:29,048 --> 01:04:32,378 and they were translated right there. 678 01:04:32,379 --> 01:04:38,229 But even Enoch even lived 350 years, we don't have to go that far. 679 01:04:38,230 --> 01:04:44,336 But for most of us, the path is still somewhat long before us. 680 01:04:44,337 --> 01:04:56,835 Oh, it may get cut short, but we have all the promises of God. 681 01:04:56,836 --> 01:05:08,076 And He does promise, that at the end there is life. 682 01:05:08,077 --> 01:05:12,465 Brethren, eternal life. 683 01:05:12,466 --> 01:05:18,241 It's forever. What are you going to do forever? 684 01:05:18,242 --> 01:05:28,936 Be lavished by the kindness of God, be married to Christ, behold Him face to face. 685 01:05:28,937 --> 01:05:32,059 There is life. 686 01:05:32,060 --> 01:05:37,136 And Jesus said, "It's life more abundant." 687 01:05:37,137 --> 01:05:38,843 More abundant than anything here, 688 01:05:38,851 --> 01:05:44,692 more abundant than living on the South Pacific Island supposed paradise. 689 01:05:44,693 --> 01:05:48,125 Hawaii is not paradise, pop. 690 01:05:48,126 --> 01:05:51,760 There is a Paradise that eclipses that. 691 01:05:51,761 --> 01:05:57,987 And we see it there in the words, that's at the end. 692 01:05:57,988 --> 01:05:59,941 I mean, forever and forever and forever, 693 01:05:59,957 --> 01:06:04,010 how does that stack up against a few years? It doesn't stack up. 694 01:06:04,011 --> 01:06:06,203 It's not even to be equated.(P) 695 01:06:06,204 --> 01:06:11,780 I was thinking, you know, we talk so much about age. 696 01:06:11,781 --> 01:06:15,979 You know, "Oh, he is 60 years old." 697 01:06:15,980 --> 01:06:17,762 To young people, "Oh, that's so old." 698 01:06:17,763 --> 01:06:23,372 Imagine when we all say, "Yeah, we all turn a million today." 699 01:06:23,373 --> 01:06:26,384 It's like, so what? We don't even care. 700 01:06:26,385 --> 01:06:30,666 I mean, if there even is such measurements of time. 701 01:06:30,667 --> 01:06:46,460 You know, It's been a million years since we all lived here, and we are no closer to the end. 702 01:06:50,666 --> 01:06:56,108 And as we sang that song, brethren, Immanuel's Land, 703 01:06:56,109 --> 01:07:01,933 we are not going to look at the glory, we are going to look at our Bridegroom. 704 01:07:01,934 --> 01:07:07,156 And I guarantee, not one of us is going to look at Him 705 01:07:07,157 --> 01:07:13,615 and turn to him beside us and say, "Nah it wasn't worth it." 706 01:07:13,616 --> 01:07:18,379 We will forget, like the woman in childbirth, you forget. 707 01:07:18,380 --> 01:07:21,257 I mean, the glory, the joy is just too great. 708 01:07:21,258 --> 01:07:28,416 That's nothing. It won't matter.(P) 709 01:07:32,965 --> 01:07:37,046 Brethren, we are only here for just a little bit, and then we are gone. 710 01:07:37,047 --> 01:07:39,952 Just a vapour. 711 01:07:41,762 --> 01:07:45,305 And I'll tell you, when death takes you, it comes so fast. 712 01:07:45,306 --> 01:07:48,259 My stepdad died, I think, at 67. 713 01:07:48,260 --> 01:07:59,819 He died lost, and the day he died, I thought, "What if he had lived for Christ? 714 01:07:59,820 --> 01:08:08,874 If he had just lived for Christ, it'll be all over now. He'd be in glory." 715 01:08:08,875 --> 01:08:11,520 And he lost everything. 716 01:08:11,521 --> 01:08:17,560 Destruction. Destruction. 717 01:08:18,778 --> 01:08:24,117 Look, if you're living the easy life right now, 718 01:08:24,118 --> 01:08:30,245 yeah we have it by Jesus' own words, it's wide, it's broad. 719 01:08:30,246 --> 01:08:33,337 There is freedom there. 720 01:08:33,339 --> 01:08:41,279 It's easy, for a season. 721 01:08:41,279 --> 01:08:43,152 Yeah, there is pleasures and sin. 722 01:08:43,153 --> 01:08:51,841 The sins you enjoy in there, the pleasure and sin, is for a season. 723 01:08:51,841 --> 01:08:55,886 And then the end.(P) 724 01:08:57,970 --> 01:09:18,635 Father, I pray that the narrow, the wide, the way; one hard, one easy. 725 01:09:18,636 --> 01:09:29,218 Lord, I pray that these realities might sit heavy upon us. 726 01:09:29,219 --> 01:09:31,219 I pray in Christ's name, amen.