1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:02,320 Welcome, everyone. It's good to see everybody 2 00:00:02,320 --> 00:00:06,200 that's here. We do have several of our number 3 00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:10,680 that are, is this loud. We do have several of our number 4 00:00:10,680 --> 00:00:12,640 that are missing. But it's great to see all of you 5 00:00:12,640 --> 00:00:15,960 and we have a wonderful crowd because you're here and it is 6 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:18,920 great to see you. We've been praying for you, 7 00:00:19,080 --> 00:00:23,040 Jason, and it's wonderful to see you with us today. 8 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:24,960 And our prayers have been answered. 9 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:28,880 That's wonderful. This morning we're going to 10 00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:33,800 continue our series on the great Sermon on the Mount, and we come 11 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:38,320 to Matthew Chapter 7 and verses 13 and 14 where Jesus is going 12 00:00:38,320 --> 00:00:42,840 to teach us a lesson about the difficult way that leads to 13 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:45,840 life. I want to notice these passages 14 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:47,600 first of all, beginning in verse 13. 15 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:52,200 Jesus said this entered by the narrow gate, for wide is the 16 00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:56,200 gate, and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there 17 00:00:56,200 --> 00:01:01,200 are many who go in by it because narrow is the gate and difficult 18 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:07,360 is the way which leads to life and there are few that find it. 19 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:12,720 In chapter 6 and verses 19 through 21, the Lord teaches us 20 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:16,080 that there's life after this life, that man's existence is 21 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:18,440 going to extend or go beyond this life. 22 00:01:18,680 --> 00:01:23,480 We know that in Chapter 7 and verses 13 and 14, the Lord's 23 00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:26,120 going to tell us that that existence is going to be in one 24 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:29,880 of two places. So the choices that we make are 25 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:32,600 very important in our life because they're going to 26 00:01:32,600 --> 00:01:34,920 determine where it is that we spend eternity. 27 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:38,320 We all know that. And Jesus gives in this 28 00:01:38,320 --> 00:01:41,680 masterful sermon really, I guess, a reality check. 29 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:44,200 The Lord was great about keeping it real. 30 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:47,280 What I'm going to say is we're going to talk about some things 31 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:51,640 that are difficult to grasp. And sometimes as we go through 32 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:54,760 this, we may get a little discouraged, but have No Fear 33 00:01:55,480 --> 00:01:57,720 because in the end, we're going to show that it's worth it. 34 00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:01,120 We're in the end, we're going to show that we really can do it 35 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:05,040 regardless of the circumstances, regardless of the difficulties 36 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:08,160 and even the persecutions and tribulations that would come our 37 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:13,960 way in entering the gate that leads to the narrow way that 38 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:17,400 leads to life. That's why Jesus in the very 39 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:19,240 beginning of this passage, he says this. 40 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:21,080 You got to enter by the narrow gate. 41 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:22,760 Now I'm just going to say this in advance. 42 00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:25,160 So you don't think, man, he's spending a lot of time on this 43 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:27,440 first phrase. We got a lot to cover in two 44 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:28,920 verses. We're going to be here for a 45 00:02:28,920 --> 00:02:31,840 really long time. Have No Fear. 46 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:34,400 The majority of our lesson is going to be focused on this 47 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:39,720 phrase because that's the point, the choice of entering by the 48 00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:43,880 narrow gate. And why is it narrow and why is 49 00:02:43,880 --> 00:02:47,440 the way difficult? You know, the Lord is the was 50 00:02:47,440 --> 00:02:50,520 the master at everything. He was the master at preaching. 51 00:02:50,840 --> 00:02:53,840 And he as he had this this audience of people on the great 52 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:56,720 Sermon on the Mount, they would have understood the context of 53 00:02:56,720 --> 00:02:59,960 what he's talking about. And the reason for that is he is 54 00:02:59,960 --> 00:03:04,640 drawing a picture, a very vivid picture of two different walled 55 00:03:04,640 --> 00:03:07,800 cities with two very different gates. 56 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:12,560 One is difficult and one is easy. 57 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:16,200 Now, why is that significant? It's very significant because 58 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:20,240 all ancient cities, or may I just say most ancient cities, 59 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:23,000 were walled. In fact, you can go back to the 60 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:24,720 Old Testament. You remember Nineveh. 61 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:30,000 I read historians that said that Nineveh's walls were so wide to 62 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:33,240 keep the enemy out that you could take two Chariots and 63 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:35,680 drive them side by side on the top of the wall. 64 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:37,880 That's how thick those walls were. 65 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:41,640 There was another thing that was very common too, by the way, and 66 00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:45,760 Jerusalem very important. Around this time, Jerusalem was 67 00:03:45,760 --> 00:03:48,720 exactly the same. They were fortified with walls 68 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:53,720 and how many gates? 11 main gate. 69 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:56,720 And there was a reason for that, to protect himself from the 70 00:03:56,720 --> 00:03:58,640 enemy. Nobody can go back and 71 00:03:58,640 --> 00:04:01,320 circumvent the deal and come in the backside. 72 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:04,720 You had to come in one gate and the guards would guard that gate 73 00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:06,680 to keep the enemy out. So they understood the 74 00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:10,960 illustration. The Lord is saying this to us. 75 00:04:10,960 --> 00:04:17,160 Please get this, Our life is the preparation ground for eternity. 76 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:22,400 In fact, Diana reminded me of she called it one of my Frank 77 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:27,160 isms a while back. But I've said this many times 78 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:28,840 over the years. Here's the point. 79 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:34,320 Our life is the trial, meaning we are on trial now. 80 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:38,720 Where we're going to spend eternity is determined by the 81 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:42,440 trial. Our trial is the life that we're 82 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:45,960 living now. When we die, our fate is sealed 83 00:04:45,960 --> 00:04:50,080 in death and one of two things, we are either acquitted or we 84 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:53,800 are convicted at death. Then when the Lord comes back at 85 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:56,720 the resurrection, that is the sentencing day when the Lord 86 00:04:56,720 --> 00:04:58,480 will separate the sheep from the goats. 87 00:04:59,360 --> 00:05:03,280 So our life is the trial. It is the preparing for where we 88 00:05:03,280 --> 00:05:05,600 spend eternity, and that's what the Lord is saying here. 89 00:05:07,160 --> 00:05:09,120 I like what Fowler said. He said it this way. 90 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:13,440 The emphasis is not on the entering as opposed to remaining 91 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:18,480 outside, since all humanity is regarded as entering one gate or 92 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:20,320 the other. So here's the emphasis. 93 00:05:20,760 --> 00:05:23,880 The emphasis is on the choice of the right gate. 94 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:27,640 That's the emphasis of this passage, choosing the right 95 00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:32,480 gate. Now, why is the narrow gate the 96 00:05:32,480 --> 00:05:35,240 most unlikely? You know why? 97 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:39,200 Because it's the one that's the hardest, the one that leads to 98 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:42,960 life is the one that is the most difficult. 99 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:46,520 But in order to be saved, you have to enter the gate. 100 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:49,160 You can't just admire it. You can't just meditate on it. 101 00:05:49,160 --> 00:05:51,160 I want to make a little side point here, OK? 102 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:54,880 I know a lot of people in my life that admire Jesus. 103 00:05:56,040 --> 00:05:58,360 I know a lot of people that even quote Jesus. 104 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:02,880 I know a lot of people that speak words that Jesus spoke. 105 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:10,000 Here's the problem. Far too many people today lack 106 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:13,920 the commitment that it takes to commit themselves to the Lord so 107 00:06:13,920 --> 00:06:17,120 they can get enter the narrow gate that leads to the way of 108 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:18,960 righteousness, that leads to the way of life. 109 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:25,760 You ever heard people say this? You ever heard people say that 110 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:29,080 we live in a godless society? You know that's not true. 111 00:06:30,880 --> 00:06:33,280 We do not live in a godless society. 112 00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:36,520 And I know it's very convenient for people to say, oh, look at 113 00:06:36,520 --> 00:06:37,520 all the stuff going on in the world. 114 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:40,520 We live in a godless society. There are godless people, 115 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:42,720 absolutely. There are people that don't 116 00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:44,520 recognize God. That's all true. 117 00:06:44,680 --> 00:06:49,360 But make no mistake about it, we really don't live in a godless 118 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:51,280 society. Stay with me. 119 00:06:51,280 --> 00:06:55,720 I'm going to prove my point here in the city of Bakersfield. 120 00:06:55,720 --> 00:06:59,360 Did you know that we are not only #1 when it comes to bad 121 00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:05,920 air, but we are #1 in the entire state of California? 122 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:10,680 By way of a survey that was taken regarding how many people 123 00:07:10,960 --> 00:07:14,400 are likely to attend church services or profess 124 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:18,200 Christianity, Bakersfield, CA is number one in the state. 125 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:21,800 Does that sound godless? Not to me. 126 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:25,640 What's the problem? The problem isn't godless. 127 00:07:25,720 --> 00:07:30,120 The problem is commitment. That's the problem. 128 00:07:31,640 --> 00:07:35,080 It's commitment. If our society has a problem, 129 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:38,840 it's commitment. And that stems in all aspects of 130 00:07:38,840 --> 00:07:40,320 our life. I remember coaching youth 131 00:07:40,320 --> 00:07:42,720 athletics. I used to tell the parents, take 132 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:44,560 your vacations all year long. Do it. 133 00:07:44,640 --> 00:07:47,680 But during this time, that's my time. 134 00:07:48,280 --> 00:07:49,920 That's our time. Don't take vacations. 135 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:51,480 You know what they did? Some of them, they didn't care. 136 00:07:51,560 --> 00:07:55,840 Took vacations. Commitment, commitment issues. 137 00:07:57,000 --> 00:08:01,000 That's our society. So Jesus says enter by the 138 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:02,600 narrow gate. That's the new King James. 139 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:06,160 The old King James says straight gate, and the word means narrow. 140 00:08:06,320 --> 00:08:08,840 That's why I love how the new King James says it, because it 141 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:11,440 just says what the meaning is. Enter by the narrow gate. 142 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:14,080 OK, what else? What does it mean? 143 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:17,400 It means to groan as being under pressure. 144 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:21,000 That's what the word means. The word straight or the word 145 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:26,720 narrow, in a figurative sense, it denotes a restriction or 146 00:08:26,880 --> 00:08:29,960 constriction. That's what the word means. 147 00:08:31,760 --> 00:08:36,480 In other words, it's this. The path that leads to the 148 00:08:36,480 --> 00:08:42,480 Kingdom of heaven is extremely narrow and the only thing that 149 00:08:42,480 --> 00:08:44,960 there's room for. In other words, there's not room 150 00:08:44,960 --> 00:08:46,600 for anything other than these two things. 151 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:51,240 Number one, God's plan and #2 the Lord's teaching. 152 00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:53,680 And that's found, by the way, in the New Testament. 153 00:08:53,680 --> 00:08:56,200 That's all the New Testament. The New Testament is the last 154 00:08:56,200 --> 00:08:57,680 will and testament of Jesus Christ. 155 00:08:58,760 --> 00:09:01,160 In other words, that's why it is narrow. 156 00:09:01,160 --> 00:09:03,720 That's why it is difficult. There's not room for anything 157 00:09:03,720 --> 00:09:09,240 else except God's plan and the Lord's teachings, and that's all 158 00:09:09,240 --> 00:09:10,520 that's revealed in the Word of God. 159 00:09:10,720 --> 00:09:15,560 OK. In other words, the gate is not 160 00:09:15,560 --> 00:09:20,320 wide enough for self righteousness, sinfulness, or 161 00:09:20,320 --> 00:09:23,160 even pride. I like how Luke records this. 162 00:09:23,160 --> 00:09:26,160 Notice what the Lord said in the Gospel according to Luke chapter 163 00:09:26,160 --> 00:09:30,960 13 and verse 24. He said the word strive. 164 00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:33,320 I got to talk about strive for just a moment. 165 00:09:33,960 --> 00:09:37,240 Have you ever heard somebody say we got to strive for perfection? 166 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:44,400 I was coached old school and my coaches said we don't practice 167 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:47,560 doesn't make perfect unless you practice perfect. 168 00:09:47,560 --> 00:09:49,800 And you know, they thought they were pretty wise by saying that. 169 00:09:49,800 --> 00:09:51,240 It's wisdom. That's great stuff, right? 170 00:09:53,160 --> 00:09:55,760 You know, it's a ridiculous concept to strive for perfection 171 00:09:55,760 --> 00:09:57,280 because you cannot ever attain it. 172 00:09:59,560 --> 00:10:02,320 When I coach football, I tried to emphasize something 173 00:10:02,320 --> 00:10:04,240 different. We're not going to strive for 174 00:10:04,240 --> 00:10:06,360 perfection. That's that's not attainable 175 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:08,400 because everybody makes mistakes and nobody's perfect. 176 00:10:08,560 --> 00:10:11,920 We're going to strive for excellence, which is attainable. 177 00:10:13,040 --> 00:10:18,120 When the Lord talks about this word strive, He means something 178 00:10:18,120 --> 00:10:21,560 we can attain. We can actually attain 179 00:10:21,560 --> 00:10:22,760 something. What is it? 180 00:10:23,040 --> 00:10:26,480 The narrow gate, if we strive for it. 181 00:10:26,960 --> 00:10:30,840 You know the word, the Greek word for strive is the Greek 182 00:10:30,840 --> 00:10:33,880 word that we often come up with another English word too. 183 00:10:34,200 --> 00:10:39,880 And it's this word here, agony, that sounds painful. 184 00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:42,240 That doesn't sound like fun at all. 185 00:10:42,920 --> 00:10:46,480 Here's the point. To enter the Kingdom, to live 186 00:10:46,480 --> 00:10:49,720 the Christian life. It's not going to be a leisurely 187 00:10:49,720 --> 00:10:52,120 stroll. There's going to be some 188 00:10:52,120 --> 00:10:53,760 striving. There's going to be some 189 00:10:53,760 --> 00:10:56,920 struggle and even a little agony in our life. 190 00:10:57,760 --> 00:11:00,960 In other words, it comes with painful dedication. 191 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:02,840 And bear with me, it's going to be worth it. 192 00:11:03,800 --> 00:11:06,320 We'll get to all that in Luke 16 and 16. 193 00:11:06,320 --> 00:11:08,960 Notice how he says it here. The law and the prophets were 194 00:11:08,960 --> 00:11:11,760 until John. Since that time, the Kingdom of 195 00:11:11,760 --> 00:11:16,200 God has been preached and everyone get this is pressing 196 00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:21,040 into it. The word actually means through 197 00:11:21,040 --> 00:11:26,160 intense pursuit. The American Standard version 198 00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:30,400 renders it like this. Every man entereth violently 199 00:11:30,760 --> 00:11:33,960 into it. Now, this doesn't suggest, by 200 00:11:33,960 --> 00:11:38,520 the way, it doesn't suggest that we can force our way into the 201 00:11:38,520 --> 00:11:39,800 Kingdom. That's not what that's talking 202 00:11:39,800 --> 00:11:42,360 about. The striving that we're talking 203 00:11:42,360 --> 00:11:49,080 about is this. We enter by pushing past all of 204 00:11:49,080 --> 00:11:54,120 the barriers that would stand in our way and sometimes that 205 00:11:54,120 --> 00:12:01,560 selfish desires, sometimes that selfish ambitions, sometimes 206 00:12:01,760 --> 00:12:06,160 that is things or anything in our life whatsoever you plug it 207 00:12:06,160 --> 00:12:10,720 in that stands in our way of being fully devoted and 208 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:12,600 committed. There's that word again and 209 00:12:12,600 --> 00:12:16,320 committed to our Lord. That's what it is. 210 00:12:16,320 --> 00:12:20,600 That is the violently part. We press through those things, 211 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:23,360 through those barriers aggressively. 212 00:12:23,440 --> 00:12:26,280 By the way, you've heard me say this before, but living the the 213 00:12:26,280 --> 00:12:30,040 Christian life is not a life of passive acquiescence. 214 00:12:30,080 --> 00:12:33,000 In other words, I'm just going to passively sit here and just 215 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:34,520 hang in there till the Lord comes back. 216 00:12:34,680 --> 00:12:38,520 That is not Christianity. Christianity is a fight. 217 00:12:39,280 --> 00:12:40,960 Our weapon is the sword of the Spirit. 218 00:12:40,960 --> 00:12:44,520 That's the Word of God. And our life is about standing 219 00:12:44,520 --> 00:12:47,520 for the truth of the Word of God and following the Lord all the 220 00:12:47,520 --> 00:12:49,960 days of our life. And sometimes that means that's 221 00:12:49,960 --> 00:12:53,120 going to be really hard. Sometimes it's going to be 222 00:12:53,120 --> 00:12:55,960 really difficult. OK, what about this aspect right 223 00:12:55,960 --> 00:12:58,320 here? What about the violent part? 224 00:12:59,240 --> 00:13:02,840 What about that? The violence refers to the 225 00:13:02,840 --> 00:13:07,360 extreme demands that are on the Christian, but it also refers, 226 00:13:07,920 --> 00:13:12,280 get this to spiritual crucifixion. 227 00:13:12,280 --> 00:13:15,840 I'm going to get back to this in a minute, but I'm going to put 228 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:17,920 one verse up. When we talk about spiritual 229 00:13:17,920 --> 00:13:22,400 crucifixion, notice then he said to them all, if anyone desires 230 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:27,040 to come after me, let him deny Himself and take up His cross 231 00:13:28,280 --> 00:13:35,080 daily and follow me. That is spiritual crucifixion. 232 00:13:35,200 --> 00:13:38,680 May I just remind us that sometimes with this intense 233 00:13:38,680 --> 00:13:43,520 pursuit comes hard times. So don't be, don't be 234 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:45,400 discouraged because it's always been that way. 235 00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:51,680 Notice with you some Bible for that in Acts chapter 14, a long 236 00:13:51,680 --> 00:13:55,520 time ago these were brethren that were being warned of what 237 00:13:55,520 --> 00:14:00,760 was coming in their life. And in Acts 14 and 22, it says 238 00:14:01,800 --> 00:14:04,800 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to 239 00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:09,680 continue in the faith, and saying we must through many 240 00:14:09,680 --> 00:14:13,200 tribulations enter the Kingdom of God. 241 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:17,640 These were people that lived a long time ago, and they were 242 00:14:17,640 --> 00:14:20,040 told through many tribulations that were going to enter the 243 00:14:20,040 --> 00:14:23,800 Kingdom of God. I think it's important to 244 00:14:23,800 --> 00:14:27,520 reflect on the sacrifices that the forefathers had gone through 245 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:29,360 in the days of the early church. That's true. 246 00:14:29,640 --> 00:14:33,480 But please understand, just because we are not persecuted 247 00:14:33,480 --> 00:14:38,960 like they were and we're not being martyred for our faith and 248 00:14:38,960 --> 00:14:41,440 really that in our life we may say that we have it easy. 249 00:14:41,560 --> 00:14:44,520 Make no mistake about it. The Bible says that all that 250 00:14:44,520 --> 00:14:49,120 will live godly will what, suffer persecution of some kind, 251 00:14:50,880 --> 00:14:54,360 something. It may be a lost job because you 252 00:14:54,720 --> 00:14:57,080 said I'm not going to forsake the assembly. 253 00:14:57,920 --> 00:15:01,760 It may be that you lose out on something in your life and you 254 00:15:01,760 --> 00:15:04,120 didn't get a promotion or you didn't get something that you 255 00:15:04,120 --> 00:15:07,280 had coming that you deserved because you put the Lord first. 256 00:15:08,680 --> 00:15:11,880 Or you wouldn't side with people that are sinful doing sinful 257 00:15:11,880 --> 00:15:14,960 things and then you're being avoided as a result of it. 258 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:18,440 Or somebody may make fun of a young person because they say, 259 00:15:18,440 --> 00:15:21,760 no, I'm a Christian. I don't do those kind of things. 260 00:15:23,160 --> 00:15:27,320 Regardless in your life, whatever it is, if you live 261 00:15:27,320 --> 00:15:31,160 godly, the Bible says you will suffer persecution. 262 00:15:31,160 --> 00:15:34,600 So let's just understand, tribulations come our way too, 263 00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:36,320 even in the modern time. And do you know why? 264 00:15:37,200 --> 00:15:43,160 Because Satan is still working. Satan is the enemy. 265 00:15:44,840 --> 00:15:48,160 He's still working. He was working when these words 266 00:15:48,160 --> 00:15:50,040 were spoken, and he's still working today. 267 00:15:50,160 --> 00:15:52,080 He just changes his tactics a little bit. 268 00:15:53,080 --> 00:15:55,680 He's cunning and crafting and he changes his tactics. 269 00:15:56,040 --> 00:16:00,640 OK, but just remember this. It's only going to be for a 270 00:16:00,640 --> 00:16:04,360 short time and then it's glory forever. 271 00:16:07,680 --> 00:16:14,080 Then that make you feel a little bit better when the words to the 272 00:16:14,080 --> 00:16:16,800 seven churches of Asia in the Book of Revelation went out. 273 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:20,560 I love this passage. You've heard me preach on this 274 00:16:20,560 --> 00:16:24,840 passage in Revelation chapter 2 and verse 10. 275 00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:28,640 Smyrna was the persecuted church. 276 00:16:29,480 --> 00:16:33,480 So John the Revelator penning these words of Jesus, divinely 277 00:16:33,480 --> 00:16:36,120 inspired by the Holy Spirit said this. 278 00:16:37,240 --> 00:16:40,720 Do not fear any of those things which you're about to suffer. 279 00:16:40,720 --> 00:16:43,840 Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison 280 00:16:44,040 --> 00:16:48,800 that you may be tested and you will have tribulation. 10 days. 281 00:16:48,800 --> 00:16:52,120 I'm going to get back to 10 days in a minute in a figurative 282 00:16:52,120 --> 00:16:54,360 sense, but let me just tell you what I can do anything for 10 283 00:16:54,360 --> 00:16:58,800 days. I can do anything for 10 days 284 00:17:00,640 --> 00:17:06,720 when I know that the outcome is great and the suffering is only 285 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:14,160 for a short time. I remember when I had cancer, I 286 00:17:14,160 --> 00:17:15,960 remember the treatments were awful. 287 00:17:16,880 --> 00:17:21,760 OK, they were awful. And there were times when, man, 288 00:17:21,760 --> 00:17:23,480 I had to do a lot of praying just to get through it. 289 00:17:23,680 --> 00:17:24,880 Just to get through it and bear it. 290 00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:28,400 It was awful. Chemo was terrible, but 291 00:17:28,400 --> 00:17:30,720 radiation was even worse for head and neck cancer was 292 00:17:30,720 --> 00:17:33,560 terrible. The pain was awful. 293 00:17:34,200 --> 00:17:37,480 OK. But I always knew that I had the 294 00:17:37,480 --> 00:17:43,360 Lord #1 #2 the prognosis was good, my test results were 295 00:17:43,360 --> 00:17:46,840 getting better, and I knew if I just endure it for a little 296 00:17:46,840 --> 00:17:52,760 while, I'm going to be OK. It's amazing what we can do when 297 00:17:52,760 --> 00:17:54,800 we only have to endure it for a little time. 298 00:17:54,920 --> 00:17:57,200 You know what Jesus says, if you're going to have 299 00:17:57,200 --> 00:18:03,880 tribulation, it's only 10 days. It's only 10 days. 300 00:18:04,880 --> 00:18:07,560 But then he says be faithful until death. 301 00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:11,680 And by the way, this does not mean, although you can lump it 302 00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:15,720 in a general sense, it doesn't mean be faithful all your life 303 00:18:16,120 --> 00:18:18,480 and you'll get a crown of life. Although that's true, that's not 304 00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:20,720 what he means here. The context of the passage is 305 00:18:20,720 --> 00:18:23,520 really this. You're going to have tribulation 306 00:18:23,520 --> 00:18:28,880 10 days, but be faithful even if it means your death. 307 00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:32,920 That's the context. And even if it means your death, 308 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:36,480 don't worry, Jesus said I'm going to give you a crown of 309 00:18:36,480 --> 00:18:37,840 life. So here's my point. 310 00:18:38,040 --> 00:18:40,160 People talk about the days of tribulation. 311 00:18:40,440 --> 00:18:43,480 I was holding a meeting in Kentucky recently and there was 312 00:18:43,480 --> 00:18:46,280 a visitor that came one night and he came up and he wanted to 313 00:18:46,280 --> 00:18:49,240 talk to me after services about the period of tribulation. 314 00:18:49,240 --> 00:18:51,480 He want to talk about the rapture and the period of 315 00:18:51,480 --> 00:18:54,000 tribulation at the end of time. And I, I just said, look, I 316 00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:56,560 don't have time to go into all this with you today, but I will 317 00:18:56,680 --> 00:19:01,160 in the future if you'd like. But what I said is I said the 318 00:19:01,160 --> 00:19:03,680 period of tribulation is not at the end of time. 319 00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:08,280 The period of tribulation is right now in your life. 320 00:19:09,320 --> 00:19:12,080 It was in these people's lives. And by the way, the Book of 321 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:15,680 Revelation, scholars say, was either written in the eighty 60s 322 00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:18,560 or in the eighty 90s and we don't know for sure. 323 00:19:19,360 --> 00:19:21,560 Scholars are all over the map. I'm just going to say it this 324 00:19:21,560 --> 00:19:23,440 way. That part doesn't matter. 325 00:19:23,440 --> 00:19:26,400 What I'm saying is when Jesus made this promise about the 326 00:19:26,440 --> 00:19:29,840 period of tribulation, it was a long time ago and every one of 327 00:19:29,840 --> 00:19:34,800 those people are dead now. OK, So what does it mean? 328 00:19:34,800 --> 00:19:36,840 What did the Lord mean when he said tribulation? 329 00:19:36,840 --> 00:19:38,280 10 days? What is 10 days? 330 00:19:38,280 --> 00:19:45,920 Here it is, one short lifetime. You're going to have tribulation 331 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:50,080 1 short lifetime. Don't worry though, if you're 332 00:19:50,080 --> 00:19:53,200 faithful even to the point of even if they come and kill you, 333 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:55,840 don't worry about it. The Lord said, I'm going to give 334 00:19:55,840 --> 00:19:59,640 you a crown of life. Another passage, John 1633. 335 00:19:59,880 --> 00:20:02,240 Jesus is speaking to his disciples, OK. 336 00:20:03,400 --> 00:20:05,800 Early eighty 30s he's speaking to his disciples. 337 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:09,760 These things I've spoken to you, that in me you may have peace in 338 00:20:09,760 --> 00:20:12,360 the world, you will have tribulation speaking to his 339 00:20:12,360 --> 00:20:16,240 disciples, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world. 340 00:20:16,240 --> 00:20:20,640 And one more final passage in Acts 14 and 22, strengthening 341 00:20:20,640 --> 00:20:23,440 the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in 342 00:20:23,440 --> 00:20:28,280 the faith, and saying we must through many tribulations enter 343 00:20:28,640 --> 00:20:35,720 the Kingdom of God. OK, Because of that, because of 344 00:20:35,720 --> 00:20:39,040 the tribulations, because of the difficulty. 345 00:20:39,840 --> 00:20:45,080 That is why Jesus said few there be that find it. 346 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:50,200 And the reason for that is because not everybody is willing 347 00:20:50,320 --> 00:20:55,560 to make the sacrifice. Do you remember in the days that 348 00:20:55,960 --> 00:21:00,400 the Hebrew writer wrote to the Hebrew Christians, it was 349 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:04,520 looking forward to the point of the destruction of Jerusalem and 350 00:21:04,520 --> 00:21:06,080 they were under great persecution. 351 00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:10,320 That's why Hebrews 10/25 says not forsaking the assembling of 352 00:21:10,320 --> 00:21:12,880 ourselves together as a manner of some is, but exhorting one 353 00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:14,680 another so much more. You see they're approaching and 354 00:21:14,680 --> 00:21:17,280 I know there's different variations of opinions and 355 00:21:17,280 --> 00:21:19,280 there's merit to it. Is it the first day of the week? 356 00:21:19,280 --> 00:21:22,640 That day is at the end of time. There's merit in that, but the 357 00:21:22,640 --> 00:21:26,280 context really is the destruction of Jerusalem because 358 00:21:26,280 --> 00:21:29,000 that's what they could see. And as they were going toward 359 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:31,200 the destruction of Jerusalem, they were being persecuted 360 00:21:31,200 --> 00:21:34,040 greatly. Oh, tribulations. 361 00:21:35,800 --> 00:21:38,480 And many of them quit and went back to the old Law of Moses 362 00:21:38,480 --> 00:21:41,040 because they said we don't want to pay the price, folks. 363 00:21:41,200 --> 00:21:44,880 That's why Jesus said few there be that find it because not 364 00:21:44,880 --> 00:21:46,680 everybody wants to pay the price. 365 00:21:47,640 --> 00:21:51,960 That's why it doesn't mean few are going to have access to it. 366 00:21:52,200 --> 00:21:55,960 It means few are going to make the willful choice to choose it 367 00:21:57,160 --> 00:21:58,680 because of what all of it comes with it. 368 00:21:58,800 --> 00:22:01,880 OK, all right, here's the contrast though. 369 00:22:02,240 --> 00:22:04,760 For wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leads to 370 00:22:04,760 --> 00:22:08,400 destruction. And there are many who go in by 371 00:22:08,400 --> 00:22:10,400 it. OK, that's the contrast. 372 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:14,200 Another way people flow where the gates wide. 373 00:22:14,840 --> 00:22:19,200 It's a place that has no restrictions, No restrictions. 374 00:22:20,320 --> 00:22:22,560 The path is broad. One scholar said it this way. 375 00:22:23,280 --> 00:22:27,120 It suggests the fact that the Broadway is wide open country. 376 00:22:27,120 --> 00:22:29,840 In other words, it's not like going through a narrow gate to 377 00:22:29,840 --> 00:22:31,680 get on a path. It's like going through a big 378 00:22:31,680 --> 00:22:36,640 gate to a pasture. That's what it's like with no 379 00:22:36,640 --> 00:22:40,520 fences or boundaries. There's no rules or regulations 380 00:22:40,600 --> 00:22:44,640 to hinder one from doing what they want on the Broad Rd. 381 00:22:44,640 --> 00:22:49,320 One may go anywhere he wants to and live as undisciplined a life 382 00:22:49,360 --> 00:22:51,600 as he chooses. Does that kind of sound like 383 00:22:52,880 --> 00:22:56,560 the? World a little bit where people 384 00:22:56,560 --> 00:22:58,040 choose. To do whatever they want. 385 00:22:59,480 --> 00:23:03,040 When they place. Themselves in control instead of 386 00:23:03,040 --> 00:23:07,120 God being in control. Because they don't want. 387 00:23:07,120 --> 00:23:10,360 To have any restrictions. They don't want to have. 388 00:23:10,360 --> 00:23:13,240 Any rules at all? Now trust me. 389 00:23:13,640 --> 00:23:16,360 Living the Christian life is not just about obeying rules, but 390 00:23:16,360 --> 00:23:19,680 rules are part of it. The Word of God does give us 391 00:23:19,680 --> 00:23:21,800 rules to abide by in our life. Surely it is. 392 00:23:22,000 --> 00:23:24,680 I'm just saying being a Christian is more than just 393 00:23:24,680 --> 00:23:26,680 rules. But yes, make no mistake about 394 00:23:26,680 --> 00:23:33,560 it, it does include rules. Those that follow this way, 395 00:23:33,560 --> 00:23:37,640 please get this. It's like a wayward sheep that 396 00:23:37,640 --> 00:23:42,000 leaves a Good Shepherd. Now we know we have the Good 397 00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:43,200 Shepherd. I'm going to get back to that in 398 00:23:43,200 --> 00:23:44,280 a moment. We're going to get to that 399 00:23:44,280 --> 00:23:49,040 later. But a Good Shepherd tended his 400 00:23:49,040 --> 00:23:51,680 flock. When a sheep. 401 00:23:51,680 --> 00:23:55,880 Wandered away from the shepherd. The sheep was in danger. 402 00:23:55,880 --> 00:23:59,000 You know why? No restrictions go wherever I 403 00:23:59,000 --> 00:24:00,840 want to. But he was in danger. 404 00:24:00,920 --> 00:24:04,320 And often times a wild beast would come and kill the sheep. 405 00:24:04,440 --> 00:24:06,080 You know why? Because the Shepherd wasn't 406 00:24:06,080 --> 00:24:10,960 there to protect it. That's what happens. 407 00:24:10,960 --> 00:24:14,640 When you wander on your own without the Shepherd, there's no 408 00:24:14,640 --> 00:24:17,880 protection at all. Then Jesus. 409 00:24:17,880 --> 00:24:22,680 Says this in Matthew 714. Because narrow is the gate and 410 00:24:22,680 --> 00:24:26,680 difficult is the way that leads to life and there are few who 411 00:24:26,680 --> 00:24:29,800 find it OK. The King James. 412 00:24:29,800 --> 00:24:32,920 Version says narrow, but the word actually means this. 413 00:24:33,040 --> 00:24:37,200 It means press or compress. That's what it means. 414 00:24:37,560 --> 00:24:39,440 And the illustration of the picture is this. 415 00:24:39,640 --> 00:24:41,920 It's like the squeezing of grapes, right? 416 00:24:42,120 --> 00:24:44,200 You squeeze the grapes to get the juice. 417 00:24:44,560 --> 00:24:47,120 That's the compression here. That's what he's saying. 418 00:24:47,400 --> 00:24:52,920 Narrow is the gate and difficult meaning press or compress is the 419 00:24:52,920 --> 00:24:55,040 way. But there's another. 420 00:24:55,040 --> 00:24:58,720 Illustration to another analogy. Robertson says it like this. 421 00:24:59,160 --> 00:25:03,080 Robertson says that the analogy is like this, like a tight place 422 00:25:03,080 --> 00:25:05,960 between high rocks. Now you might remember this a 423 00:25:05,960 --> 00:25:10,400 long time ago when I preached on the I AM statements of Jesus and 424 00:25:10,400 --> 00:25:14,080 I talked about when Jesus says I am the Good Shepherd. 425 00:25:14,320 --> 00:25:18,120 You might remember when I said that often times keeping the 426 00:25:18,120 --> 00:25:23,040 same analogy of between two rocks, sometimes those sheep 427 00:25:23,400 --> 00:25:26,480 would be taken by the shepherd early in the morning outside of 428 00:25:26,480 --> 00:25:28,240 a great big pen. OK. 429 00:25:29,680 --> 00:25:31,600 The. Place that they had to go graze 430 00:25:31,600 --> 00:25:34,680 was not a great big pasture of plush grass. 431 00:25:35,360 --> 00:25:38,640 They had to take him up the side of a mountain oftentimes, and 432 00:25:38,640 --> 00:25:41,200 rocky terrain. And when they did, you know what 433 00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:43,520 often happened? One of those little sheep would 434 00:25:43,520 --> 00:25:46,400 get their legs stuck in between two rocks. 435 00:25:47,760 --> 00:25:50,840 Would the shepherd do? That's the difficult way. 436 00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:53,840 That's this difficult thing we're talking about. 437 00:25:55,080 --> 00:25:56,400 But you know. What the shepherd did, though, 438 00:25:56,640 --> 00:25:59,880 the shepherd was watching all of his sheep, and the shepherd 439 00:25:59,880 --> 00:26:02,960 would go and pull that leg out between those two rocks. 440 00:26:03,880 --> 00:26:06,920 I actually read that a shepherd worked so hard during the day 441 00:26:07,040 --> 00:26:09,800 watching his sheep. He wasn't just kicking back, 442 00:26:10,560 --> 00:26:14,360 taking a snooze. He worked so hard during the day 443 00:26:14,520 --> 00:26:17,240 that scholars say that they were absolutely exhausted at the end 444 00:26:17,240 --> 00:26:19,520 of the day. That's what the Shepherd. 445 00:26:19,520 --> 00:26:21,640 Does. Kind of a picture of. 446 00:26:21,640 --> 00:26:24,520 Another shepherd I know. It's the same word. 447 00:26:24,520 --> 00:26:27,720 By the way, the root word that's translated afflicted in Second 448 00:26:27,720 --> 00:26:30,760 Corinthians one and six, and hard pressed in 2nd Corinthians 449 00:26:30,760 --> 00:26:32,960 4 and 8. Let's notice those two passages. 450 00:26:34,120 --> 00:26:36,200 Now if we are. Afflicted it is for your 451 00:26:36,200 --> 00:26:40,000 consolation and salvation which is effective for enduring the 452 00:26:40,000 --> 00:26:44,520 same sufferings which we also suffer, or if we are comforted, 453 00:26:44,800 --> 00:26:47,840 it is for our consolation and salvation. 454 00:26:48,120 --> 00:26:50,880 Difficult also means same root word afflicted. 455 00:26:50,880 --> 00:26:53,840 Here's another one. We are hard pressed on every 456 00:26:53,840 --> 00:26:57,400 side, yet not crushed. We are perplexed, but not in 457 00:26:57,400 --> 00:26:59,120 despair. You know what Paul was saying? 458 00:26:59,200 --> 00:27:01,560 I'm going to have some hard times, but it's not going to 459 00:27:01,560 --> 00:27:04,520 beat me. And I'm not going to. 460 00:27:04,520 --> 00:27:08,400 Quit. Paul says we're. 461 00:27:08,400 --> 00:27:11,520 Perplexed. But not in. 462 00:27:11,520 --> 00:27:16,200 Despair, the King James says. We are cast down but not 463 00:27:16,200 --> 00:27:19,280 destroyed. He was not going to. 464 00:27:19,280 --> 00:27:21,800 Be counted out. The way that leads. 465 00:27:21,800 --> 00:27:25,240 To life is opposite from the wide open way that the mass is 466 00:27:25,240 --> 00:27:27,240 trod. Barnes says it this way. 467 00:27:27,640 --> 00:27:31,840 It's a tight, narrow, lonely path where one travels in 468 00:27:31,840 --> 00:27:36,960 solitude and singularity. OK, and I know that comes with 469 00:27:36,960 --> 00:27:38,480 difficulty. We all understand that. 470 00:27:38,960 --> 00:27:40,480 Let me get specific and let me talk about the. 471 00:27:41,480 --> 00:27:42,880 What I was talking about. Before about. 472 00:27:44,280 --> 00:27:45,360 Spiritual. Crucifixion. 473 00:27:48,320 --> 00:27:50,000 It's a path where the cross is carried. 474 00:27:52,320 --> 00:27:54,040 Where the cost? Must be counted. 475 00:27:56,160 --> 00:28:00,720 And even. If it's necessary, it's a place 476 00:28:00,720 --> 00:28:02,920 where one's household may be his enemies. 477 00:28:03,000 --> 00:28:08,960 Matthew 10 and 36 in Luke chapter 14 and verse 27. 478 00:28:08,960 --> 00:28:14,840 Notice what Jesus said. Whoever does not bear his cross 479 00:28:15,760 --> 00:28:21,080 and come after me cannot be my disciple again. 480 00:28:21,080 --> 00:28:24,040 Here's the Lord being brilliant. Jesus said these words. 481 00:28:24,040 --> 00:28:26,560 You know what happened 24 years before this? 482 00:28:27,320 --> 00:28:30,680 Please get this picture. There was a man by the name of 483 00:28:30,680 --> 00:28:35,640 Judas of Galilee, and he was a Zealot, and he led a revolt 484 00:28:35,640 --> 00:28:39,320 against the census for taxation purposes in Rome. 485 00:28:39,560 --> 00:28:41,000 You know what happened historically. 486 00:28:41,160 --> 00:28:44,560 You know what happened? Hundreds of Judas's followers, 487 00:28:44,560 --> 00:28:49,480 not Judas Iscariot, but hundreds of his followers, were executed 488 00:28:49,680 --> 00:28:54,760 and crucified on a Roman cross. So what did they? 489 00:28:54,760 --> 00:28:58,320 Understand 24 years later, because that happened in 86. 490 00:28:58,640 --> 00:29:01,760 What did everybody understand that was listening to Jesus when 491 00:29:01,760 --> 00:29:05,920 he spoke these words in Luke 14 and 27 when he said bear his 492 00:29:05,920 --> 00:29:08,800 cross, they would have known this very important fact. 493 00:29:09,000 --> 00:29:13,920 Crosses are for dying. They would have known that. 494 00:29:15,600 --> 00:29:16,760 Crosses are for. Dying. 495 00:29:16,880 --> 00:29:22,040 OK, Whose death? Our death. 496 00:29:24,040 --> 00:29:27,400 My death. Everybody. 497 00:29:28,080 --> 00:29:31,600 Everyone's death. Now how do we do? 498 00:29:31,600 --> 00:29:35,280 That Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice on the cross for our 499 00:29:35,280 --> 00:29:38,360 sins. But how is it that I bear my 500 00:29:38,360 --> 00:29:40,840 cross? How do I do that? 501 00:29:40,960 --> 00:29:43,520 How do I do that? Two ways. 502 00:29:44,040 --> 00:29:47,640 Here we go. We do that by dying to sin, and 503 00:29:47,640 --> 00:29:50,480 that's at baptism. Remember, crosses are for dying. 504 00:29:51,880 --> 00:29:53,680 Number one. We do that by dying to sin. 505 00:29:53,680 --> 00:29:56,720 That's at baptism. But it doesn't stop there when 506 00:29:56,720 --> 00:29:58,200 we died of the world with our life. 507 00:29:59,560 --> 00:30:02,240 And we separate. Our life and we live a Christian 508 00:30:02,240 --> 00:30:04,120 life. That's not a life of sin. 509 00:30:05,720 --> 00:30:07,880 You know, that's actually. Beautifully illustrated before 510 00:30:07,880 --> 00:30:10,560 this passage. In this passage and in the one 511 00:30:10,560 --> 00:30:16,000 before, because in verse 26 Jesus says this, if anyone comes 512 00:30:16,240 --> 00:30:20,960 to me in this passage, he says and comes after me. 513 00:30:21,400 --> 00:30:25,040 I like what Caldwell said. He explains this subtle 514 00:30:25,360 --> 00:30:28,440 difference. He said this coming to Jesus 515 00:30:28,520 --> 00:30:32,680 suggests the establishment of relationship and that's it, 516 00:30:32,680 --> 00:30:35,840 Baptism. That's it. 517 00:30:35,840 --> 00:30:40,560 Baptism when we die to sin. But I like this. 518 00:30:40,560 --> 00:30:43,400 Here, let's not brush past this. Let's look at that right there, 519 00:30:45,120 --> 00:30:49,960 Relationship I. Have made a. 520 00:30:49,960 --> 00:30:52,080 Determination in my mind that I'm going to spend the rest of 521 00:30:52,080 --> 00:30:53,840 my life trying to explain to people. 522 00:30:55,600 --> 00:30:57,840 From a scriptural. Standpoint The importance of 523 00:30:57,840 --> 00:31:00,200 having the proper relationship with the Lord. 524 00:31:02,520 --> 00:31:05,240 And don't. Minimize the statement or reject 525 00:31:05,240 --> 00:31:07,640 the statement if somebody says the only thing that matters is 526 00:31:07,640 --> 00:31:08,720 having a relationship with Jesus. 527 00:31:08,720 --> 00:31:11,760 Because that's true. The question. 528 00:31:11,760 --> 00:31:14,600 Is not that. The question is, how do you 529 00:31:14,600 --> 00:31:17,160 actually have one? You can't do it on. 530 00:31:17,160 --> 00:31:20,360 Your own, You have one by being baptized for their mission of 531 00:31:20,360 --> 00:31:23,400 your sins and living a Christian life and following the Master. 532 00:31:23,560 --> 00:31:25,400 That's how you have one. A relationship. 533 00:31:25,400 --> 00:31:29,360 OK, so the idea of coming to Jesus suggests the establishment 534 00:31:29,360 --> 00:31:31,920 of a relationship. But notice in this passage 535 00:31:31,920 --> 00:31:36,440 coming after me suggests the continuing of that relationship. 536 00:31:41,760 --> 00:31:46,960 Even though it may be. Faced with persecution in 537 00:31:46,960 --> 00:31:51,160 difficult times. And because of all. 538 00:31:51,160 --> 00:31:54,320 Of those things. Jesus says. 539 00:31:54,360 --> 00:31:58,400 There are few who find it. Meaning there are a. 540 00:31:58,400 --> 00:32:01,600 Few that choose it. The word find according to fair 541 00:32:01,600 --> 00:32:04,800 means to come upon, to hit upon, to meet with, to find something 542 00:32:04,800 --> 00:32:08,040 that's sought. In other words, we're talking 543 00:32:08,040 --> 00:32:12,640 about a choice. My question is this. 544 00:32:12,960 --> 00:32:19,280 OK, find what Jesus says. Few there be that find it what 545 00:32:19,280 --> 00:32:21,040 we want to do. We'll stay in the context of 546 00:32:21,040 --> 00:32:25,720 what he said, because this is really the general popular 547 00:32:25,720 --> 00:32:28,600 interpretation. Well, few. 548 00:32:28,600 --> 00:32:29,440 That be that. Find heaven. 549 00:32:29,440 --> 00:32:31,400 In other words, only a few of us are going to heaven, and we're 550 00:32:31,400 --> 00:32:34,720 the few. So everybody, what did he say in 551 00:32:34,720 --> 00:32:39,800 context? Few there be that find it. 552 00:32:40,800 --> 00:32:45,400 What's the IT the difficult way that leads to life? 553 00:32:47,320 --> 00:32:48,440 Because that's a. Choice. 554 00:32:50,520 --> 00:32:55,000 That's a choice, you know. The narrow. 555 00:32:55,000 --> 00:32:57,080 Path is wide enough for all Christians though. 556 00:32:57,480 --> 00:33:01,040 All of us. It's wide enough. 557 00:33:01,040 --> 00:33:07,200 For all Christians, if we do, what if we follow the Lord our 558 00:33:07,200 --> 00:33:12,720 shepherd, single file on one narrow path? 559 00:33:16,280 --> 00:33:18,160 I thought about this this week. I was driving down the road and 560 00:33:18,160 --> 00:33:20,600 I thought I remembered back in the 70s. 561 00:33:21,920 --> 00:33:24,920 Growing up on a ranch. Was the greatest life for a kid, 562 00:33:26,320 --> 00:33:31,640 having horses and cattle and dogs, Greatest life for a kid? 563 00:33:31,680 --> 00:33:33,960 I didn't need anything. I didn't. 564 00:33:33,960 --> 00:33:36,080 We didn't have. One of that Nintendo Wii didn't 565 00:33:36,080 --> 00:33:38,560 have any of that or Xbox or we didn't do any of that. 566 00:33:39,880 --> 00:33:42,760 None of that. That's back in the days, eight 567 00:33:42,760 --> 00:33:46,640 track. Yeah, didn't have any headphones 568 00:33:46,640 --> 00:33:50,600 or nothing like that or OK, So what we had is we had we had to 569 00:33:50,600 --> 00:33:53,360 go outside and do stuff. It was the greatest life. 570 00:33:55,080 --> 00:33:58,640 We had a dude ranch in Ojai. We had a hundred horses at one 571 00:33:58,640 --> 00:34:00,920 time. People would. 572 00:34:00,920 --> 00:34:04,120 Come from all over and they would pay money to go on a trail 573 00:34:04,120 --> 00:34:07,640 ride up through the mountains of our property and there was a 574 00:34:07,640 --> 00:34:10,440 leader, a guide out in the front. 575 00:34:11,719 --> 00:34:13,800 And there was one that. Always was in the tail, like the 576 00:34:13,800 --> 00:34:16,400 caboose in the back of a train and would be in the very back. 577 00:34:16,600 --> 00:34:19,239 Do you know that every one of our horses were so trained you 578 00:34:19,239 --> 00:34:22,199 could drop the reins and we'd get these city folk that come 579 00:34:22,199 --> 00:34:24,239 from all over, man, they'd be scared to death just holding the 580 00:34:24,239 --> 00:34:25,880 horn like this, thinking they're really doing something. 581 00:34:26,120 --> 00:34:28,719 And those horses, you could take the bridle off of them and they 582 00:34:28,719 --> 00:34:31,520 would just walk straight after the horse that's in front of 583 00:34:31,520 --> 00:34:33,360 them all the way around on that entire trail. 584 00:34:36,080 --> 00:34:42,679 That is the picture of the sheep which we are following our 585 00:34:42,840 --> 00:34:45,600 shepherd. And he's leading us. 586 00:34:45,600 --> 00:34:49,480 Straight to heaven. You know what happens? 587 00:34:49,480 --> 00:34:52,159 Though if one of those horses peeled off, another one would 588 00:34:52,159 --> 00:34:55,440 peel off behind it. So it's kind of like. 589 00:34:55,440 --> 00:34:57,760 This let's be like the Apostle Paul. 590 00:34:57,760 --> 00:35:00,240 May I just say this too? I may have a tiny bit of 591 00:35:00,240 --> 00:35:01,840 influence with you. I don't know, Maybe I got a 592 00:35:01,840 --> 00:35:04,080 little. But if I got any. 593 00:35:04,080 --> 00:35:06,560 At all. Only follow me if I follow 594 00:35:06,560 --> 00:35:10,560 Jesus. Like Paul says, follow me as I 595 00:35:10,560 --> 00:35:14,160 follow Christ. What happens is sometimes people 596 00:35:14,160 --> 00:35:16,240 are on the path and one guy decides to go off the 597 00:35:16,240 --> 00:35:18,440 reservation and peel off and look at the damage. 598 00:35:18,440 --> 00:35:21,400 People follow. Got to get back on the path and 599 00:35:21,400 --> 00:35:28,880 follow the Master, the Shepherd. That's the path that the Good 600 00:35:28,880 --> 00:35:30,400 Shepherd leads his followers with love. 601 00:35:30,400 --> 00:35:31,520 I'm going to share with you a story. 602 00:35:31,600 --> 00:35:33,080 Maybe you've heard it's a very old story. 603 00:35:36,120 --> 00:35:39,400 Long time. Ago, there was an old preacher 604 00:35:40,880 --> 00:35:43,560 and he was celebrating his 50th year of ordination. 605 00:35:45,440 --> 00:35:47,800 And he called up the. Famous actor Richard Burton. 606 00:35:49,320 --> 00:35:52,560 And Richard Burton. Had had a lot of success and a 607 00:35:52,560 --> 00:35:56,080 lot of experience even as a Shakespearean actor. 608 00:35:56,080 --> 00:36:02,040 He was a wonderful orator and the preacher said I want you to 609 00:36:02,040 --> 00:36:06,080 come to my 50th celebration of my ordination and when you do, I 610 00:36:06,080 --> 00:36:08,440 would love it. If you recited. 611 00:36:08,440 --> 00:36:11,240 The 23rd Psalm with all of your oratory skill. 612 00:36:13,600 --> 00:36:15,720 Richard Burton said. Sure, I'll do it on one 613 00:36:15,720 --> 00:36:18,320 condition. He said preacher. 614 00:36:18,320 --> 00:36:24,400 When I'm done, you do the same. And he said, OK, there was a 615 00:36:24,400 --> 00:36:26,080 huge. Crowd in that auditorium. 616 00:36:27,320 --> 00:36:31,280 And Richard Burton. Got up and with oratory skill he 617 00:36:31,280 --> 00:36:39,080 absolutely beautifully recited the 23rd Psalm without flaw and 618 00:36:39,080 --> 00:36:42,640 people stood and applauded. Because it was. 619 00:36:42,640 --> 00:36:46,040 Beautiful. He turns to the old. 620 00:36:46,040 --> 00:36:47,400 Preacher, he says. Now it's your turn. 621 00:36:49,640 --> 00:36:55,040 And the old preacher. Just got up, he had no speaking 622 00:36:55,040 --> 00:36:58,000 skill. But from his. 623 00:36:58,000 --> 00:37:02,560 Heart He recited the 23rd Psalm like this. 624 00:37:04,960 --> 00:37:06,920 He said the Lord. Is my shepherd. 625 00:37:09,840 --> 00:37:15,600 And I shall. Not want He maketh me. 626 00:37:16,800 --> 00:37:18,560 To lie down. In green pastures. 627 00:37:21,160 --> 00:37:25,000 He leadeth. Me beside the still waters. 628 00:37:27,000 --> 00:37:28,520 He restoreth. My soul. 629 00:37:31,600 --> 00:37:34,080 He leadeth me. In the paths of righteousness. 630 00:37:35,880 --> 00:37:36,920 For his name's. Sake. 631 00:37:39,560 --> 00:37:41,520 Yeah, though I walk. Through the valley of the shadow 632 00:37:41,520 --> 00:37:44,800 of death. I will fear no. 633 00:37:44,840 --> 00:37:51,480 Evil. For thou art with me thy rod, 634 00:37:52,200 --> 00:37:59,960 and by staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before 635 00:37:59,960 --> 00:38:03,000 me. In the presence. 636 00:38:03,000 --> 00:38:07,960 Of mine enemies. Thou anointest. 637 00:38:07,960 --> 00:38:15,880 My head with oil, my cup runneth over, surely? 638 00:38:15,880 --> 00:38:19,360 Goodness. And mercy shall follow me all 639 00:38:19,360 --> 00:38:23,160 the days of my life. And I. 640 00:38:24,120 --> 00:38:27,320 Will dwell in the House of the Lord forever. 641 00:38:30,640 --> 00:38:31,720 When he was. Finished. 642 00:38:33,560 --> 00:38:37,240 The crowd was dead silent. There were no. 643 00:38:37,240 --> 00:38:40,680 Applause. They were just tears. 644 00:38:42,720 --> 00:38:44,520 And as he sat. Down there was a man sitting 645 00:38:44,520 --> 00:38:46,880 next to Richard Burton. He leans over and he said, hey, 646 00:38:46,880 --> 00:38:52,640 Burton, why was it when you got up and recited the 23rd Psalm, 647 00:38:52,640 --> 00:38:54,800 the result was thunderous applause. 648 00:38:57,320 --> 00:38:58,640 But when the old preacher. Got up. 649 00:39:00,320 --> 00:39:01,760 They were just silently. Moved. 650 00:39:04,560 --> 00:39:06,480 And Burton said. Here's the difference. 651 00:39:08,520 --> 00:39:15,480 I know the 23rd Psalm, but that man knows the shepherd. 652 00:39:19,160 --> 00:39:20,400 That man knows. The Lord. 653 00:39:24,360 --> 00:39:27,960 You ever stop to? Consider how valuable it is to 654 00:39:27,960 --> 00:39:31,280 know the Shepherd. And for the Shepherd to. 655 00:39:31,280 --> 00:39:35,640 Know you? Back in Bible. 656 00:39:35,640 --> 00:39:39,160 Times when that shepherd would go to that sheepfold in the 657 00:39:39,160 --> 00:39:43,000 morning. There was a number. 658 00:39:43,000 --> 00:39:45,320 Of shepherds, and they would all have all their sheep in one 659 00:39:45,320 --> 00:39:49,160 great big pen. But every day. 660 00:39:49,160 --> 00:39:50,920 That shepherd had to go get his own sheep out. 661 00:39:50,920 --> 00:39:53,800 Now, I don't know about you. Sheep look all like to me. 662 00:39:56,280 --> 00:39:59,400 A shepherd, though, knew his sheep so well that every one of 663 00:39:59,400 --> 00:40:02,320 them were named. He knew him by. 664 00:40:02,320 --> 00:40:03,800 Name. That's how much the shepherd 665 00:40:03,800 --> 00:40:07,440 knew the sheep. And the sheep. 666 00:40:07,440 --> 00:40:09,560 Knew the Shepherd so much they knew his voice. 667 00:40:10,960 --> 00:40:12,960 So when the. Shepherd would come to the gate. 668 00:40:14,200 --> 00:40:15,520 He would call. The sheep. 669 00:40:17,240 --> 00:40:21,600 By name and they would come. Because they knew his voice. 670 00:40:23,200 --> 00:40:24,760 And that shepherd. Would have his sheep. 671 00:40:27,040 --> 00:40:35,160 That is our Lord. That's our Lord. 672 00:40:35,160 --> 00:40:40,360 Let me ask you something. Do you know the Shepherd? 673 00:40:43,280 --> 00:40:45,120 If you don't know the. Shepherd, nothing matters. 674 00:40:46,240 --> 00:40:48,640 I just. Gave you a picture of what a 675 00:40:48,640 --> 00:40:50,880 shepherd did. Why is Jesus? 676 00:40:52,120 --> 00:40:57,240 The Good Shepherd #1 he gave. His life for his sheep on 677 00:40:57,240 --> 00:41:00,200 Golgotha's brow. He died for the sheep. 678 00:41:00,280 --> 00:41:03,840 And why I love this? Because he loved his sheep. 679 00:41:04,280 --> 00:41:07,800 And he brings us into intimate unity with himself and with each 680 00:41:07,800 --> 00:41:08,160 other. You. 681 00:41:09,840 --> 00:41:11,960 Know what that's called? It's called having a 682 00:41:11,960 --> 00:41:15,920 relationship with Jesus and having a relationship in the 683 00:41:15,920 --> 00:41:21,400 body of Christ with each other to all because of our Good 684 00:41:21,600 --> 00:41:24,080 Shepherd. Can we live the? 685 00:41:24,080 --> 00:41:26,000 Christian life, you better believe we can. 686 00:41:26,720 --> 00:41:28,560 Is it going to be worth it? Absolutely. 687 00:41:28,760 --> 00:41:31,920 You may have some tribulation 10 days, but it's only 10 days. 688 00:41:32,160 --> 00:41:33,800 Jesus said I'll give you a crown of life. 689 00:41:34,400 --> 00:41:36,800 I love it. Jesus further said in my 690 00:41:36,800 --> 00:41:38,240 Father's house are many mansions. 691 00:41:38,240 --> 00:41:41,320 If we're not so I would have told you I go to prepare a place 692 00:41:41,320 --> 00:41:43,600 for you, that where I am, there you may be also. 693 00:41:43,600 --> 00:41:46,440 Isn't that great? The word prepare. 694 00:41:46,440 --> 00:41:48,240 Means reservation. I'm going to go make a 695 00:41:48,240 --> 00:41:51,080 reservation for you, for his people. 696 00:41:51,760 --> 00:41:54,600 So don't ever think in your life, no matter what goes on in 697 00:41:54,600 --> 00:41:57,160 your life, no matter how difficult it may be, don't ever 698 00:41:57,160 --> 00:41:58,640 think for one minute you're alone. 699 00:41:58,640 --> 00:42:01,400 You are not. You got the shepherd. 700 00:42:02,280 --> 00:42:05,280 I'm finished. Thank you for your kind 701 00:42:05,280 --> 00:42:07,640 listening. We never close. 702 00:42:07,640 --> 00:42:09,760 A time that we teach from the Word of God without extending an 703 00:42:09,760 --> 00:42:13,000 invitation. And by the way, this is how you 704 00:42:13,000 --> 00:42:15,440 know the shepherd. This is the only way to know the 705 00:42:15,440 --> 00:42:17,360 shepherd. You got to hear the Word of God. 706 00:42:17,360 --> 00:42:21,120 Romans 10/17 So faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word 707 00:42:21,120 --> 00:42:22,920 of God. Upon hearing the word of God, 708 00:42:22,920 --> 00:42:25,040 you got a choice to make. You got to believe it with all 709 00:42:25,040 --> 00:42:26,440 your heart. Hebrews 11 and 6. 710 00:42:26,600 --> 00:42:30,640 Without faith, it's impossible to please Him, for he who comes 711 00:42:30,640 --> 00:42:33,920 to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of 712 00:42:33,920 --> 00:42:38,000 those who diligently seek Him. Then we got to. 713 00:42:38,000 --> 00:42:39,680 Repent, got to change some stuff. 714 00:42:40,160 --> 00:42:42,280 Repent of our sins. Acts 17 and 30. 715 00:42:42,520 --> 00:42:46,000 Truly these times of ignorance got overlooked but now commands 716 00:42:46,040 --> 00:42:49,680 all men everywhere to repent. Then we must be willing to say 717 00:42:49,680 --> 00:42:50,960 the greatest thing we will ever say.