Sunday Re Cap (9th September 2012)

Enter By The Narrow Way

Matt 7:13-23

Intro: In this portion of scripture, Jesus taught about choices and consequences. Many times we make the mistake of believing that life is about choosing between the good or bad. Many things in life appear good but they lead to bad. As we get a deeper understanding of grace, we may get this inaccurate understanding that God’s grace which is Christ working in and through us may allow us to continue living in a sinful lifestyle. However we need to understand that the choice to sin will also mean reaping its consequences.

 

This is part of the first block of teaching in the gospel of Matthew known as the Sermon on the Mount. In chapter 5 Jesus lays down the moral basis of life in the kingdom of God. Citizens of the kingdom then and through the ages will:

• Seek to please God.
• Trust God completely to meet their material needs.
• Express trust in God in prayer.
• Act on and obey the words of Jesus.

 

It results in a lifestyle free from anxiety (6:19-34), just treatment of others (7:1-12) and obedience (7:13-27).

 

The warnings are as follows:

1. There is a wide and easy gate that leads to destruction and there is a narrow and hard gate that leads to life.
2. A healthy tree bears good fruit and a diseased tree will bear bad fruit. “We will recognize a tree by its fruit.”

1. V13-14:

• Here Jesus shows us the first of the choices we need to make and gives us the consequences. The first gate is wide and easy but it leads to destruction. The interesting thing is that there are many who find it and enter through it. It is the path travelled by the majority; or what we call in today’s language “the norm”. What are some of the norms today?
• We have a moral responsibility to God to teach our children to choose the narrow way that leads to LIFE!

2. V15-18

• The warning is against false teaching. What is this section really about? It’s got something to do with choices and consequences AGAIN! The right connection will lead us to fruitfulness and the wrong connection will lead us to destruction.
• We thank God and honor prophetic ministries but our trust must always be in the MOST PERFECT PROPHET who is CHRIST. We need to stop looking to prophets as fortune tellers but our reliance must always be the greatest PROPHECY of ALL; THE WORD OF GOD! When we make THAT choice, The CONSEQUENCES are ALWAYS GOOD!
• When THE GROUND is good; even bad seeds that fall into it cannot survive.
• Whether we understand or don’t, just disinfect our heart by reading THE WORD. Ask The Holy Spirit to help us by giving us discernment and revelation!

 

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Continued Next Week…