Difficulties to Endure Along the Narrow Way, #1

The point: Beware of the attractive and popular alternative to the narrow gate, and especially of false prophets (including your own heart) who would tell you the gate or way is not so narrow.

The narrow gate is likened to a turnstile, emphasizing that people can only enter one at a time, stripped of anything that would hinder their entrance, highlighting the personal and humbling nature of conversion.

I am deeply desirous that you actually enter it. And so he graciously but with regal authority gives this imperative, enter this kingdom, but only one way to enter, by means of getting through a narrow gate, a turnstile-like entrance into the kingdom where people can only go in one at a time. They can only enter one at a time. They can only go in stripped of all that would hinder their entrance.

6:20 - 6:50 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The sermon reviews three points from previous messages: Christ's gracious but regal command to enter the narrow gate, His warning against the attractive and popular alternative…

Martin quotes and references John Bunyan's 'Pilgrim's Progress' to illustrate the narrow gate and the dangerous, difficult journey of the Christian life, culminating in the breathtaking description of heaven.

and then it is life. Old Bunyan had it right. I've been rooting around in Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress this week, and I said, I'm going to tell my people Sunday morning, we need to blow the dust off the dreams of the tinker of Bedford. Old Bunyan had it right.

10:59 - 11:17 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The sermon defines the Greek words for 'way' (a path of conduct) and 'straightened' or 'compressed' (phlebo, meaning restricted, difficult, pressured), establishing that the…

The broad way is described as having 'nice curves' where one can 'whistle and daydream,' contrasting it with the 'straightened, difficult, and dangerous' narrow way, to highlight the ease of the world's path versus the rigor of Christ's.

And that's the form in which we find it here. Jesus said you're to enter into the narrow gate and then you will enter upon a straightened, that is a compressed and oppressed, difficult way. And so it should not surprise us that this word in its noun form, phlipsis, is the standard word for oppression, affliction, tribulation, all the way through the testament. What is affliction, tribulation? It's pressured circumstances that squeeze in upon us and make us uncomfortable. So when the Lord said in his hearers ears, narrow is the gate and straightened, I think the best contemporary word is compre...

17:00 - 18:01 Read in full sermon

Driving home: The way that becomes the lifestyle of those who enter the kingdom is nothing more, but nothing less than an extension into the totality of life of the issues dealt with at the gate.

The relationship between the gate and the way is compared to the organic development from conception to birth to an 80-year-old man, emphasizing that there is no radical disparity between conversion and the subsequent Christian life.

There's an organic relationship. There's an organic relationship. It's like the relationship relationship between that which is conceived in the mother's womb, which is brought forth in birth and is found in the 80-year-old man, thus conceived and born and lives to be an old man. There's an organic relationship.

24:30 - 24:53 Read in full sermon

The point: Engage in an obedience that does not pick and choose, but is universal in its intention, touching thoughts, motives, attitudes, dispositions, and deeds, both public and private.

Martin illustrates 'serious pursuit' by stating that if his path is biblical, he would fall in the direction of someone aiming a .44 Magnum at him, splattering blood, rather than turning back, emphasizing unwavering commitment to biblical principle.

I've got it in my crosshairs and I'm going after it. Like I said to someone at one time on a given issue where we were talking about what it is to be committed to principle, that if I know my path is biblical, I'm not naturally a courageous person. I'm very timid natively by temperament. But if I know my path is cut by my Bible and I'm moving in that path, you may stand ten feet away with a .44 Magnum, aim it right between my eyes, and pull the trigger, and I'm going to fall in your direction and spatter my blood on you on the way down.

48:10 - 48:46 Read in full sermon

The point: Engage in an obedience that does not pick and choose, but is universal in its intention, touching thoughts, motives, attitudes, dispositions, and deeds, both public and private.

Martin shares a personal anecdote about his 'serious pursuit' of his wife, Dorothy, despite being told to slow down, to illustrate the intensity of a 'serious pursuit' of obedience.

You thought you weren't going to hear illustrations about Dorothy anymore. But she's not here, so I can use one.

48:56 - 49:02 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The second difficulty is the serious pursuit of universal obedience to the will of Christ as embodied in His words. This extends from discarding self-will at the gate, requiring a…

Paul's statement about disciplining his body lest he become a 'reprobate' is used as an example of the difficult, serious pursuit of obedience, even for an apostle.

But they are. Some of them difficult. The way of purlin Paul did. Like a man who's himself in my body.

63:45 - 64:00 Read in full sermon

The point: If you face a lengthy period of singleness due to commitment to Christ's way, feed your soul with the reality of the pure, exalted love awaiting you in heaven.

The corruption leading to the flood (sons of God and sons of men) and the need to clean up mixed marriages in the exile are cited as biblical examples of the dangers and curses of unbiblical unions.

Remember the corruption that led to the flood. The Holy Ghost highlights what? Mixed marriages. That's what it says.

74:55 - 75:08 Read in full sermon