Jesus, as God in the flesh, made the following proclamation…
“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 THAT GO IN THEREAT: BECAUSE STRAIT IS THE GATE, AND NARROW IS THE WAY, WHICH LEADETH UNTO LIFE, AND FEW THERE BE THAT FIND IT.” (Matthew 7:13 & 14)
To Summarize Jesus’ teaching:
“BROAD IS THE WAY, THAT LEADS TO DESTRUCTION, AND MANY ENTER THROUGH IT!”
“NARROW IS THE WAY, THAT LEADS TO LIFE, FEW FIND IT; LESS FOLLOW IT!”
It is truly shocking how few ever find ” THE WAY THAT LEADS UNTO LIFE”. As in most of Jesus’ teachings, this one has more than one meaning. We will presume that the reader understands the most basic meaning; which is that Jesus is the way and the truth and the life and that no man goes to the Father, but by Him. Jesus is however, feeding us much more meat with this teaching.
Jesus is speaking about receiving the inheritance that He guaranteed us with His blood.
“THE THIEF COMETH NOT, BUT FOR TO STEAL, AND TO KILL, AND TO DESTROY: I AM COME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE AND HAVE IT MORE ABUNDANTLY!”
Very few people including Christians, who are saved and going to heaven, have been taught about, understand or have inherited the abundance of life guaranteed by the blood of Jesus. That is why so many Christians are staggering around, living defeated and powerless lives. In appearance, they are no different than those who are perishing eternally.
GOD PROCLAIMED TO THE PROPHET HOSEA, “MY PEOPLE PERISH FOR A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE.” JESUS TAUGHT US SAYING: “YOU DO ERR, NOT KNOWING THE SCRIPTURES NEITHER THE POWER THEREOF!”
In addition to eternal life for which we should be most grateful…Jesus gave us: abundant life, health, adoption into the royal family of God, dominion over every power of the evil one, joy, peace, power to command words, power to command angels, the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, all truth, the mind of Christ, newness of life, His faith, the vision of things to come by the Holy Spirit, freedom from whatever we need to be made free from and the new covenant relationship with God of Grace through Faith. Would you be interested in receiving these?
The shortcut to “THE WAY THAT LEADS UNTO LIFE” is belief; making a decision to be fully persuaded beyond the shadow of a doubt, that Jesus meant what He said and that He is whom He says that He is.
The shortcut to “THE BROAD WAY THAT LEADS TO DESTRUCTION” is unbelief: refusal to believe that Jesus meant what He said, or that He is who He claims to be.
Jesus is guiding those who choose to hear and read His Truth, His Word to “THE WAY THAT LEADS UNTO LIFE”.
satan is guiding most through his lies and deception to “THE WAY THAT LEADS TO DESTRUCTION”.
HOW TO FIND AND FOLLOW NARROW WAY THAT LEADS UNTO LIFE! Jesus gave us a road map, through His teachings. Here are some scriptures tied together that create a map to the Narrow Way:
“Let not your hearts be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Fathers house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am there ye may be also. AND WHITHER I GO YE KNOW, AND THE WAY YOU KNOW. I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE; NO MAN COMETH TO THE FATHER, BUT BY ME. IF YE HAD KNOWN ME, YE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN MY FATHER ALSO; AND FROM HENCEFORTH YE KNOW HIM AND HAVE SEEN HIM.”
“HE THAT BELIEVETH ON ME, BELIEVETH NOT ON ME, BUT ON HIM THAT SENT ME. AND HE THAT HATH SEEN ME, HATH SEEN HIM THAT SENT ME.” (John 14:1 – 4 & 6 & 7… John 12:45)
“Then said they unto Him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said unto them, “THIS IS THE WORK OF GOD, THAT YE BELIEVE ON HIM WHOM HE HATH SENT.” (John 6:28 – 29)
“VERILY, VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, EXCEPT YOU EAT THE FLESH OF THE SON OF MAN AND DRINK HIS BLOOD, YOU HAVE NO LIFE IN YOU. ” (John 6:53)
“IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD, AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD, AND THE WORD WAS GOD, THE SAME WAS IN THE BEGINNING WITH GOD. “
“AND THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH, AND DWELT AMONG US, AND WE BEHELD HIS GLORY, THE GLORY AS OF THE ONLY BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHER, FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH.” (John 1:1,2 & 14)
“IT IS THE SPIRIT THAT MAKES ALIVE, THE FLESH PROFITETH NOTHING: THE WORDS THAT I SPEAK UNTO YOU THEY ARE SPIRIT, AND THEY ARE LIFE. BUT THERE ARE SOME OF YOU THAT DO NOT BELIEVE!” (John 6:63 & 64)
“FOR THIS IS MY BLOOD OF THE NEW COVENANT, WHICH IS SHED FOR MANY FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS.” (Matthew 26:28)
To eat the flesh and drink the blood of the son of man; is to choose beyond doubt to believe His Word and to make it the energy source of our lives.
“IT IS WRITTEN, THAT MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY WORD OF GOD.” (Luke 4:4)
To drink the blood of the Son of Man is to make a decision to believe beyond the shadow of a doubt that Jesus guaranteed every word He spoke with His blood.
When we eat the flesh and drink the blood of Jesus, we have found and are traveling down “THE NARROW WAY THAT LEADS UNTO LIFE.” As He proclaimed, few find the way. The reason is because His Word is rarely spoken or taught. When it is, it is rarely believed even by those who speak it. Here are more words that lead to and down the NARROW WAY:
“HITHERTO, YOU HAVE ASKED NOTHING IN MY NAME, ASK AND YE SHALL RECEIVE, THAT YOUR JOY MAY BE FULL.” (John 16:24)
“IF YOU ABIDE (accept, endure, stick to, remain) IN ME, AND MY WORDS ABIDE IN YOU, YE SHALL ASK WHAT YOU WILL, AND IT SHALL BE DONE UNTO YOU.” (John 15:7)
“ASK AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN UNTO YOU; SEEK AND YE SHALL FIND; KNOCK AND THE DOOR SHALL BE OPENED UNTO YOU: FOR EVERYONE THAT ASKS, RECEIVES; AND EVERYONE THAT SEEKS, FINDS; AND TO HIM THAT KNOCKS, IT SHALL BE OPENED.”
“OR WHAT MAN IS THERE OF YOU WHOM IF HIS SON, ASKS FOR BREAD, WILL HE GIVE HIM A STONE? OR IF HE ASKS FOR A FISH, WILL HE GIVE HIM A SNAKE? (This is a very interesting comment; Jesus is represented by the fish and satan by the snake) IF YOU THEN BEING EVIL, KNOW HOW TO GIVE GOOD GIFTS TO YOUR CHILDREN, HOW MUCH MORE WILL YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER GIVE YOU GOOD GIFTS TO THOSE WHO ASK HIM?” (Matthew 7:7-11)
“AGAIN, I SAY UNTO YOU, THAT IF TWO OF YOU SHALL AGREE ON EARTH AS TOUCHING ANYTHING THAT THEY SHALL ASK, IT SHALL BE DONE FOR THEM OF MY FATHER, WHICH IS IN HEAVEN,” (Matthew 18:19)
“I BEHELD satan AS LIGHTNING FALL FROM HEAVEN. BEHOLD, I GIVE YOU UNTO YOU POWER TO TREAD ON SERPENTS AND SCORPIONS (Jesus is referring to satan and all that is his, not literally snakes and scorpions, although with enough belief, this might also be possible) AND EVERY POWER OF THE ENEMY: AND NOTHING SHALL BY ANY MEANS HURT YOU. (Luke 10:18-19)
“VERILY, I SAY UNTO YOU, WHATSOEVER YOU SHALL BIND ON EARTH SHALL BE BOUND IN HEAVEN: AND WHATSOEVER YE SHALL LOOSE ON EARTH SHALL BE LOOSED IN HEAVEN.” (Matthew 18:18)
“VERILY, VERILY, I SAY UNTO YOU, HE THAT BELIEVETH ON ME, THE WORKS THAT I DO SHALL HE DO ALSO; AND GREATER THAN THESE SHALL HE DO; BECAUSE I GO UNTO MY FATHER. AND WHATSOEVER YE SHALL ASK IN MY NAME, THAT WILL I DO THAT THE FATHER SHALL BE GLORIFIED IN THE SON. IF YE SHALL ASK ANYTHING IN MY NAME, I WILL DO IT.” (John 14:12-14)
“HAVE FAITH IN GOD, FOR VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, THAT WHOSOEVER, SHALL SAY UNTO THIS MOUNTAIN, BE THOU REMOVED AND BE THOU CAST INTO THE SEA; AND SHALL NOT DOUBT IN HIS HEART, BUT SHALL BELIEVE THAT THOSE THINGS WHICH HE SAYS SHALL COME TO PASS, HE SHALL HAVE WHATSOEVER HE SAYS. THEREFORE, I SAY UNTO YOU WHAT THINGS SOEVER YOU DESIRE, WHEN YOU PRAY, BELIEVE THAT YOU RECEIVE THEM AND YOU SHALL HAVE THEM.” (Mark 11:23&24)
“AND THESE SIGNS SHALL FOLLOW THEM THAT BELIEVE; IN MY NAME SHALL THEY CAST OUT DEVILS, THEY SHALL SPEAK WITH NEW TONGUES, THEY SHALL TAKE UP SERPENTS; AND IF THEY DRINK ANY DEADLY THING, IT SHALL NOT HURT THEM; THEY SHALL LAY HANDS ON THE SICK AND THE SICK SHALL RECOVER.” (Mark 16:17&18)
The scriptures you have just read alone, unlock the power of God. Everything a person could ever wish for is granted unto them through these great and precious promises guaranteed by the blood of Jesus. As we know, few choose to be fully persuaded beyond the shadow of a doubt that they are true. But we can always make that decision and walk in the Power that Jesus died to give us.
We have been taught that we must earn our blessings from God by being good, or that we lose them by not being good. Go back and read each promise again. None are qualified on performance. Jesus only asks that we believe that He paid the price in full.
Paul the teacher to the gentiles (us) explains how we receive the promises of Jesus, in his letter to the church at Rome:
“Therefore being justified (being found not guilty) by faith (living one moment at a time, with joyful expectation, of the things that we can not see), we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace (God’s willingness, ability and power to do those things for us; that we can not or will not do for ourselves) wherein we now stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God!”
By believing in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead and confessing with our mouth’s that He is Lord we are saved. Then, by making a decision to believe the promises of Jesus, we receive them and we walk “THE NARROW WAY THAT LEADS UNTO LIFE.”
I pray that this teaching has blessed you. If you have been blessed, please pass it to another who will be blessed.
HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE CHANGED IF THE NARROW WAY WAS CROWDED? DON’T KEEP THE FAITH, PASS IT ON…
YOU ARE BLESSED,
Pastor Allen
