Choose the Narrow Gate: Trading Comfortable Faith for a Fully Alive Life

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or from victory. Beware of false prophets who hinder people

from finding the narrow road that leads to heaven. Learn

more about entering the Kingdom of God. In Week fifteen

of our series Redefined.

You look at Matthew seven thirteen. He says, enter by

the narrow gate, for the gate is wide, and the

way is easy, that leads to destruction. Those who enter

by it are many geez to all the disciples. There's

two paths that you need to choose. One is the

narrow gate. Not many want to go to the narrow gate,

for the gate is wine, because there's another option. The

gate is wine and the way is easy, but then

it leads to destruction. Many picture millions walking that road

of the easy path to faith. The word that leads

to destruction if you look at the very root meaning

in the Greek word that it was used in Matthew

seven means this causing someone to be completely severed, cut

off entirely from what could or should have been. This

is the question you don't want to ask. This is

the haunting thing that happens to a lot of people

on their death bend, on their darkest moment, they asked

the question, Lord, if I just followed you before, what

could be or what should have been my life? Now

I've been completely cut off because I've chosen the easy road,

the wide road, the easy way to faith, a faith

that is so comfortable. I don't need any commitment, I

don't need sacrifice. All I need to do is show

up on church on a Sunday. That's it. A life

of what could be or what should have been if

I just followed Christ, if I became a disciple of Jesus,

not a crowd, not an attendee, part of the disciples

and dis sermon in the mount who made the decision

on not choosing the easy road to faith, going through

the narrow way that leads to life. You see the

temptation we have today is we see many, many by

the millions, embracing a kind of faith that requires no sacrifice,

requires zero commitment, a faith that is comfortable. A face

that is based on convenience, but it leads to what

the Bibles is destruction, not is not not not not,

It is only talking about hell, just talking about a

state of what could be or what should have been.

I want you to look upon your own life, and

I want you to check. Have I chosen the easy path?

Have I chosen the wide road that requires nothing of me?

And I can declare myself a Christian. Let's go to church.

That's it. I'm good. I'm waiting for Jesus to come.

I'll judge every person who's a sinner, and I'll just

show up on Sunday and not do anything about my faith.

Nothing revolutionary, about whatsoever in your life. A face that

is so consumed with self on what Christ can do

for me? The easy path, a faith what could be

or what should have been? So sad to hear so

many stories of people coming to us as I've heard

the message. I knew it before. I chose not to

follow because I saw many walking the easy road, and

I thought that was it? A life of what could

be or what should have been. Bible talks about another road,

for the gate is narrow and the way is hard

that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Sad.

Picture two roads, wide, easy, many walk through. It leads

to what could be or what should have been. But

there's this road, very narrow, dangerous, muddy. But at the

end of that road there's life. Life that was mentioned

in the Bible means this of the absolute fullness of

life boom. That was the Greek word that was used

in scripture. Sustained only by God. No people can sustain.

Nobody can sustain. No material possessions can sustain that life.

Only God can sustain that life. In Layman's term, it's

to be fully alive. By Bible says to choose the

narrow road. If there was one time we've ever tracked,

I don't know if it's even called a track, was

when we were in Baholland, and I think my eldest

at the time was four and the second one was

two years old. I don't know, I forget right. And

we went there and they said there are seven waterfalls

that you go through. I never thought it was hard.

I thought it was easy. I was in my shirt,

my shorts and my crops. I don't know if it's

even originally somebody gave it to me, right, or if

it's bought downstairs, right. I wasn't prepared for the track

if that, if you call that a track seven levels,

I think it would take you eight to ten hours

to go through the seven waterfalls. At first it was

kind of easy level one. But somewhere in level one

I was carrying my second and I think my eldest

Timmy was carrying. We weren't prepared for this. The tour

guide now it gets a little slippery now and with

your slippers that's no longer holding It was dangerous, right,

But I remember when we went to level two of

the waterfalls, all the dangers gone when we saw the view,

amazing view life, but the narrow road is dangerous. And

when the guy told us, sir, are you ready for

level three Undia, reality strikes back. I can't, even though

I can, but carrying someone and not prepared with my slippers,

I can't go to level three. We have to go back.

Some way.

That's a picture of Christians today, not prepared for the

road ahead, thinking it's all just about showing up on

a Sunday wearing the most comfortable slippers to be entertained

and inspired and be enlightened by the man of God

who will preach the word that Sunday. No sacrifice, no suffering,

no commitment. And if ever messages get hard, offended leaves

the church feels like there's no grace in the preaching.

But Jesus preached this message. The disciples knew what he

was saying when he said, you walk the easy path.

It's going to be a life of what could be

or should have been. It's going to be your destruction.

You're going to regret, You're going to cry when you're

old and say, Lord, if I just follow Lord, if

I just embrace teaching and the faith that comes with

the message of the Kingdom, life or death, two options.

We were giving the narrow gate that leads to the

fullness of life. Few find it, Few would want to go.

We've heard these messages. Here come. This leads to life,

require sacrifice, commitment. Come on, I seen season. Season. I

don't know what's up with season. I think only Christians

use that. I sees I know winter, four, spring, summer,

President diaopa umula Umulan, what season are you talking about?

Because the narrow road is hard, then it leads to life.

The elusive joy and life that the world is looking for.

So they shot every week looking for that life. They'll

try everything, they get lawyers to fix what's broken, and

it can't be fixed. The world can't fix it because

only Jesus can give that life. Are you willing to

track that narrow gate that leads to life? Not a

life of what could beer should have been? So many

stories we've heard through the years of what could be

or what should have been because we choose not to.

We choose the easy road, we choose the wide road.

We choose just going to church Sunday if it did

not rain, if there's easy parking. Who's preaching this Sunday? Oh,

I'm not attending a Christianity that's so self centered. I

think Jesus will cry. Two options. You choose today enters

through the narrow gate. For why this is the gate

and broad is the road that leads to destruction and

men enter through it small it's the game, narrow the

road that leads to life. Only a few find it.

Jesus knew the disciples would face such a choice when

they go down the mountain. They've been inspired, they've heard

from a great teaching from the Master's storyteller himself, Jesus.

Now Jesus gives it to them plain and simple too

options Why easy, narrow heard results are different. Then he says,

beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing,

but inwardly are ravenous wolves. Jesus knew what he was

talking about. Be left alone with the wolves, you die destruction.

Beware of such teachings. Beware of such teachers who will

tickle your ears and make you feel light and happy.

You're preaching a gospel with no power and no content.

We've said this, We're not after crowds. What if we

fill this place up? What if Green Hills has seven

eight thousand members? We couldn't fill up the place anymore.

We need a bigger space, yet zero impact in the city.

You know yourselves. I should go home. Has this faith

really translated into something? Or maybe I've embraced a Christianity

that has no power in it. You will recognize them

by their fruits, our graves gathered from thorn bushes or

figs from thistles. What was he saying? You're saying, be

careful with the Christianity that's so self centered that it

has no concern whatsoever with the Kingdom of God. Beware

of such teachings. Beware of such teachers that will give

you just moral teachings apart from the power of the

Holy Spirit pakabaka muramocio. All the moral teachings that anybody

who has no faith in Christ can actually teach you

makes you feel good Jesus had. Beware of such teachings,

teaching that's centered just on morality without Christ and a message.

It's very therapeutic. Jesus is your therapist. Look see Lord

maybudas Sauum. He's the munchkin. All therapy, all about me,

all about me, very self. My faith is so personal,

it's so personal personal. Nobody knows because I accepted it

as my personal Lord and personal Savior. He's my personal

imaginary friend that I speak to every night. Nobody knows

about this. Be very careful with such teachings. He was

pertaining to the Pharisees. You'll go down, you'll meet them.

All morality, all external, all changes the outside of the cup,

but not really dealing what's in the heart. Be very

careful with such teachings, very terruputing hulang a lung spa music,

mahat this makes you feel good. Something church makes me

feel good next week because it's not arapeutic. Jesus had

a mixture of both. But in light of the Kingdom

of God. So every healthy tree bears good fruit, but

the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot

bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.

What was Jesus saying, how will you know if the

brand of faith or Christianity you have is right? Look

at the fruit. Now? Only you can answer this. Only

I can answer for my family. I cannot answer for

yours my effect. But a Laga young scripture. Sin has the.

Past fifteen weeks disturb us so much that it has

redefined our marriage, our life, our business?

Or is this like wow up a church, bangal Jesus

here my therapy. Or is it the same kind of

life and pattern of sin and dysfunctional behavior that is

still alive and living in the relationships that you have

Because the Gospel has no effect in your life because

it required no commitment and no sacrifice on your part.

We have to fight this kind of Christianity to get involved.

Just like don't translate that to your faith that's Facebook,

that's not your faith, that's not kingdom thinking. Every tree

that does not bear good fruit is what cut down

and thrown into the fire. Jesus was not scaring them.

Jesus was standing them a future reality. The prayer is

five years from now, it won't be a conversation like

this pastor in October. I am people, and I know

the road that I was going to choose. It should

have been the narrow road, but I chose the easy

path and said that message was offensive. I'm not yet ready.

I'm in a different season, and so I cannot now here.

I am pastor five years from now, lonely the press

dysfunctional because I've chosen the easy path of faith, the

white road. Why did you choose the white road? Pastor

chose the white road? And also somebody I know in

Grinnias the white and also this guy and also this

victory group leader. Many will choose the easy path. The

message version said, don't be impressed with charisma. Look for

a character in the preachings. Don't be impressed with eloquent

words kalaim kalam kadingiam present. Look for a character. Who

preachers are is the main thing, not what they say,

look at the fruit. Jesus is saying in the same

way a person can profess I'm a Christian and I'm

a citizen of the Kingdom. You can say what you

want to say, but I look at who you really are.

It does not translate a genuine leader who never exploit

your emotions or your pocketbook. This diseased trees with their

bad apples are going to be chopped down and burned.

Makes me remember how sacred it is to preach the word,

and how it's every responsibility of a Christian and a

pastor like myself to preach what Jesus preached, no matter

how hard, no matter how offensive, no matter how disturbing.

It has to be preached because we don't want you

going back saying it should be or could have been

if I just but rather five years from now you're saying, Lord,

I made that commitment. It was hard. Redefined us to

go back to the drawing board. Check our lifestyle, check

our values, check if we're making an impact in society.

Are we doing something about The Gospel made me cry,

made me wept of how shallow my faith is in Christ.

Five years ago that October, that preaching did something to me.

That scripture did something in my heart because I knew

that day, which is today. I've been walking the easy

path of faith, a road that would lead to what

could be or what should have been. I hope it's

not what if. But I did the power of God.

I did chose the narrow crowd j c Rasis. Repentance

and faith in Christ and holiness of life have never

been fashionable. It will never be fashionable. I'm telling you

it's not fashionable to be a Christian, to be part

of the citizen of the Kingdom of God has never

been fashionable. Try it, try it, go to the party,

say bro cool thin, sabi musambergada virgin. It's never been

fashionable in the language of today's world. It will never

be sexy. Never. That's why Dave cannot have a reality

TV show because his life in the world's eyes boring.

He sleeps by ten at nine pm, he reads a

Bible story to Sean to put him to sleep. He

dates his wife. They talk about God, they talk about

the things that that mature couples do. There's no affair,

there's no second wife, there's nothing like that. There's no

plates flying when they're fighting, nothing controversial to be shown

on live TV. But this is what it means to

be part of the Kingdom of God. Never fashionable, and

I don't have to because when you choose the narrow road,

it gives you life, life to the fullest. John ten

ten Jesus came that I might have life, and have

life to the full, to be fully alive, to come

to a point, Lord, what I have now. I'm fully alive.

I don't need anything else. I just want to serve

you because you are my life. The white game, the

easy one lead to could have been? Or what should do?

What should be? That regrets the questions? What if I

just obeyed God became a follower of Jesus, If I

just made that decision years ago, my marriage won't be

like this, my family won't be like this. What is

said is millions would choose the easy path, millions even

among Christians. Millions. I know because I'm a pastor. I

see even to a point of I can't even give

my ten percent. It's hard, so hard to die, so hard,

then choose the easy path. I don't want to look

for disciples, you know, I just show up in church Sunday. Okay,

some advice, counseling junkies, bounding, pounding, pounding, bounding, bounding, counseling,

don counseling in the Magann counseling, bounding, bounding disciple. You're

choosing the easy path. Why you cry? Somebody listens to you, relief.

This is Jesus here my therapy HM. And when given

a choice, will you now repent? Will you now do

something about it? They may the intentions, Wow, how about

God's kingdom? How about stop looking at my needs now

and start looking at this broken world? And have given

this message that is life transforming, so that I could

share it to others, tell them the story of your

walk and your journey in that narrow road that led

to life, and not follow the millions as we end.

We leave the room today in five minutes time. Two options,

nothing else TODs A road that's wide and easy, a

road millions embraced. A Sunday Christian, a Christian by paper religion,

Christian that requires no commitment or sacrifice, nothing that only

requires of Christ to look after my need, so that

he is my ultimate psychiatrist and my moral teacher, who

would guide me and give me good advice, but never

really doing something about the message of the Kingdom of God,

the easy road that three, five, ten years from now.

This is the conversation what if it should have been?

It could have been? Or too today October twenty seventeen.

To walk out this door and say, Lord, I'm choosing

the narrow road, dangerous, dirty muddy requires commitment, requires full

attention and focus, requires a lot of redefining, reviewing of life,

lifestyle values, vision, changing the culture of just trying to

go to church every Sunday. And that's it. Redefining that

and say, Lord, I choose to be a follower, a

disciple of Jesus. That would lead to life. That is

the message today. It's bolt on my hands to spray. Lord.

It is the prayer of my heart that everyone, not

one in this room, would choose the easy path. It

lures us no commitment, no sacrifice here. Why look at

all your friends they're here. Come open or spiritual eyes

to see that the invitation really sounds like, come to

this life. That would lead to a life of regret,

of questions of what could be or what should have been?

Or may we see that.

And may we choose the narrow game, the hard road,

the rocky road, the muddy road, the stony road, the

steep road, the road that's so dangerous.

That nobody wants because it would require full attention, focus, dedication, commitment.

But at the end of the road, it would lead

to life. Life, everlasting life, eternal life, full sustained by God,

a life that no money, no millionaire or billionaire could

ever buy.

A life that satisfies, a life that changes marriages, a

life the changes relationships, a life found in Christ, a

kind of peace that the world cannot give, a supernatural

kind of life.

I want you to pray to the Lord right now

today it is your decision. Do they choose nor do

they were given two options? Also today we know we're

walking in either one of the road. For those walking

in that easy road, the wide road, Jesus, we repent, Lord,

we turn back. We go back to that fork on

that road. We go back. We repent Lord, that we

choose to walk the narrow road. The life the world

is looking for, Lord is in that narrow road. Lord,

I pray that I will be fine, faith that I

will be fine, faithful as I walk that narrow, hard road, muddy,

stony steep told me, I understand what I've entered into.

It's not a Christianity that is so easy, that would

require nothing of me. But when I choose to follow Jesus,

it would affect every area of my life. But Lord,

I know, at the end of the day, would lead

to life. So I choose the narrow road. Holy Spirit,

empower me as I walk this road. Teach me to obey,

Teach me to walk in faith every single day of

my life.

Thank you for listening to this message. For more messages

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