“Living God’s Doctrine: The Narrow Path"

                                                                   Part 2           

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(Application of God’s Doctrine 

What this looks like in our lives and 

 Why is this path so narrow and difficult?)

Beginning scripture:

Mat 7:13  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:

Mat 7:14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Think about how we choose to live our lives. There are things we do, choices we make in every aspect of our daily lives that can and will affect our future in eternity. 

Our belief system: 

-do we believe in God

-what do we believe about God—

-Have we read the Bible

• how do we interpret/ understand what we have read.

• For example:

• There are people who can read what God says about fornication-which is having unmarried sex, he says in scripture not to do it. 

• But individuals keep doing it and justify it in their own way that satisfies them.

• Which leads to 👇🏽

How we choose to live our life.

Some will say it is my life, I will do what I want. 

Others will acknowledge what the body nor says, but make excuses for their choices that satisfies them.

If the Lord puts a word on your heart to speak with someone, he will prepare the way and they will hear what needs to be said. 

They may not agree, and that is ok. God gives us free will. You did what you were supposed to do now it is up to them.

There is an eternity, either in the lake of fire and torment because the soul lives with all its senses. 

Or

In heaven in the presence of God and all that he has for those who lived their lives in holiness.

This is why the stait gait has an extreme narrow path that is difficult.

Strait:

-bodies of water 

-Often straits. a position of difficulty, distress, or need

🌟Strait is the gait 

-affording little space; confined in area.

-strict, as in requirements or principles.

We should work on living a holy life, righteous life, because this is the only life that will get us through the gates of heaven.

The word of God tells us how to live holy.

✅

Rev 22:14  Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Rev 22:15  For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

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The Worldly Influence: Deception 

Then there is this world. And what it offers in the most part are things that are I. Opposition to the word of God.

It is spiritual warfare and most have no idea about it. 

Some see it as living our lives and becoming whatever we want. 

There is truth in this, but how many of us do it as we serve God in obedience.

John 12:40

40  He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

John 12:31

31  Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

John 16:11

11  Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

John 14:30

30  Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.

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Ephesians 2:2

2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

John 5:19

19  And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

2 Corinthians 3:14 NLT

But the people's minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ.

Standing strong in our faith 

✨Mat 5:10  Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

People are persecuted daily around the world for their choice of becoming a Christian and following Christ.

👇🏽

Luke 6:22

22  Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.

👇🏽

Psalms 37:12

12  The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.

👇🏽

Luke 21:12

12  But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake

👇🏽

John 15:20

20  Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

The Hatred of the World

Jhn 15:18  If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

Jhn 15:19  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

Jhn 15:20  Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

Jhn 15:21  But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.

2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT

Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

We deal with deception, and temptation from the devil because this world is his playground.

There is persecution because we choose to serve the one true God.

We have our wants and desires, that may not come into alignment with God, unless we repent.

Remember what it said in Matthew 7:13 and 7:14? I will read it again this time from the NLT version.

Matthew 7:13-14 NLT

You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 

14] But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.

📌Rev 21:27  And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. KJV

Revelation 21:27 NLT

Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty-but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

We don’t stop serving God just because people don’t like us for being a Christian. We stand strong in our faith.

✨Mockers

Mocking someone we don’t like or we don’t agree with. Mockery of God is detrimental to our soul. Keep this in mind the next time you make fun of the word of God. 

If you are mocking someone who is bringing the word of God. He or she is doing work for the Lord. The content is about God. Watch your mockery.

✨Liars

Big lie

Little lie

Fudge- when we use that term, it’s not chocolate we speak of. 

fudged a little it means we stretched the truth which makes it a lie eg if you worked for someone and you had to log your hours, and mileage but you put more miles on the paper than you actually drove. 

We go through our day and think nothing of inserting a lie to fit the conversation we want to go our way.

You might say you fudged a little. But it is still a lie.

The narrow path is difficult. 

✨Fornication- unmarried sex 

People do this and think nothing of it. After they learn from the Bible that it tells us not to do it.

This is where a person’s belief system, and free will, come into play. If you believe in God, and you know what his word says about fornication. 

It then becomes a question of do you believe what God’s word says, don’t care, or you have convinced yourself that he understands human nature and will overlook this weakness. 

He understands human nature since he created us. However, he tells us not to do those things that prevent holy living. It is a defilement no matter what we as humans think. And nothing defiled will enter heaven.

If fornication is a struggle and we as humans feel that we can’t stop doing it. Get married. 

The narrow path is difficult. 

We may not think about this path, but this journey is not easy. If you look at the battle of unmarried sex. 

If you think this path inside the strait gate is easy, you are deceived. Not only this subject we are discussing. But every subject the Lord addresses in his word.

📍If you don’t want to marry, pray and ask God to help you in this area. Deliverance is his specialty.

📌Rev 21:27  And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. KJV

⛓️‍💥

📌Revelation 21:27 NLT

Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty-but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

I mentioned the liars, mockers, and fornication because they can be prevalent in day to day interactions.

But anything God calls an abomination and everything he tells us not to do is important to our soul.

Review of the Ten Commandments is a great starting point located in the Old Testament in the Book of Exodus chapter 20.

Repentance 

We can always ask the Lord to forgive us. Turn away from the offense and not return to it. Putting forth a true effort by not doing it anymore shows your repentance is real/ genuine. Don’t play with God.

🌟1Jn 1:9  1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

✨Jas 4:7  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 

There will be times when the temptation is strong, but don’t stay in that state of mind thinking about it. Turn your attention to something else.

Resist and the devil will flee.

2 Corinthians 6:17

17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

Is God calling you out of stagnant circumstances? Are your group of friends the people you should be around?

Is he tapping you on the shoulder. And are you ignoring him ?

Galatians 5:24

24  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Acts 2:38-40 NLT

Peter replied, "Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

39 This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away-all who have been called by the Lord our God.

40 Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation!"

Acts 3:19

19  Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

Isaiah 43:25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

Pride

-a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc.

Pride has to be addressed because it is pride that blocks us from listening when someone tries to inform, educate, or share information that the Lord has laid on their spirit to tell you.

Some people are so full of pride and arrogance, you cannot tell them anything. They carry a superior attitude. 

No matter how humble you are in your approach, their arrogance causes them to not give thought to your conversation.

Psa 10:4  The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. 

There is no room for pride and arrogance. Wisdom surpasses them both.

Proverbs 9:6

6  Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.

John 10:9

9  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Closing Prayer:

Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the LORD that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.

Father, all of us will someday stand before you alone. Let us make the necessary changes in our lives that please and honor you. Time waits for no one.

As we stand in your presence, may your spirit manifest the wonders you have for the eye that has not seen, the ear that has not heard and the mind who con’t conceive what you have for us. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Luke 13:24

24  Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

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