NARROW PATH, a lesson from a tight rope walker
William Akehurst, HSWC, 2021.06.06
Matthew 7:13-14; 7:13-29
WIDE BROAD WAY TO DESTRUCTION vs. THE NARROW PATH
Matthew 7:13-29 (KJV)
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
WARNING FOR OUR TIME
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
TESTING, EXAMINING - FRUITS OF THE RIGHTEOUS
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
THE FIRM FOUNDATION
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
NO FOUNDATION
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. 28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
SO, JUST HOW NARROW IS THIS PATH?
Illus. LESSONS FROM A TIGHT ROPE WALKER
Taking one step at a time with determination and focus so as not to waver or fault off that rope.
Requiring: Strength, endurance, perseverance, focus, determination, discipline, faith, balance.
• Narrow path leads to life.
• Narrow because it’s easy to go off path in our human nature.
• Narrow because we must examine ourselves each moment to know if we are on the path or have ventured left or right.
• Narrow because it requires focus
• Narrow because it requires attention
• Narrow because it is the way to Christ
• Narrow because it requires discipline
• Narrow because it is not simple.
• Narrow because it is the only path.
• Narrow because like a tight rope walker, it requires strength, perseverance, to take it one step at a time to reach the other side.
FOLLOWING THE NARROW PATH MUST BE OUR DAILY CHOICE
Joshua 24:15 (KJV)
15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
NARROW PATH, THE WAY TO LIFE and BLESSING or BROAD WAY TO DEATH and THE CURSE
Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (KJV)
19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: 20 That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
WORK OUT SALVATION WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING
Philippians 2:12-16 (KJV)
12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
EXAMINE YOURSELF
2 Corinthians 13:5 (KJV)5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
1 Corinthians 11:28-34 (KJV)
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. 34 And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.
HOLDING OUR PROFESSION OF FAITH
Hebrews 10:23-24 (KJV)23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
THE WITNESS WITHIN
Romans 8:16 (KJV) The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
If we are not hearing GOD’s voice, if our actions are questionable, if we fall by the wayside, we may be on the wrong road.
WE CAN KNOW
• Focus daily on the path we travel
• by our fruits
• by staying disciplined
• by choosing each day to serve the LORD
• by holding onto GOD’s WORD
• by hearing HIS VOICE by the POWER of HOLY SPIRIT within us
PRAYER
LORD help us to stay on path with YOUR commandments and YOUR Word to do YOUR will. To follow after YOU with all our heart, with determination and endurance to stay the course, run the race fully to the finish, the goal, to be with YOU.
With each step we take, as the first steps of a toddler; keep us from falling. We are YOUR children, and look to YOU and YOUR outstretched arms of love to receive us, just as we are. In the name of FATHER, SON, and HOLY SPIRIT, Amen.
BENEDICTION
Jude 1:24-25 (KJV)
24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
