Difficulties to Endure Along the Narrow Way, #3

In this part of the sermon: Pastor Martin introduces the sermon as the third in a digression on Matthew 7:13-14, reviewing the previous messages. He summarizes the narrow gate as radical conversion requiring…

The narrow gate is likened to a narrow turnstile, emphasizing the need to strip away excess baggage for entrance into the kingdom, contrasting with the wide gate's ease of entry.

Wide is the gate, broad is the way, it leads to destruction. And it's the popular way. The Lord knows that the moment people begin to think that entering the kingdom is like pressing through a narrow turnstile, one at a time, stripped of every excess bit of baggage that would keep from that entrance, that they would look for an alternative. And he says the alternative will always be there.

7:48 - 8:15 Read in full sermon

Driving home: And do not be fashioned according to this world.

Martin uses magazines, newspapers, advertising, and catalogs as examples of how American commercialism is 'of the world,' with the devil behind it, shaping society to blind people to spiritual truths and lead them to hell.

In every magazine that is printed, apart from those that are consciously seeking to be Christian, in every newspaper with its ads, in all of the advertising stuff that floats before your eyes, that comes with your mail and the catalogs and all you see on the TV, everything that grinds the wheels of American commercialism is of the world. And behind that world is a devil who is shaping and molding the whole fabric of society to blind it to the things that count and take it down to hell. Don't let your mind be conformed by it. The fashion industry is part of the world.

37:23 - 38:09 Read in full sermon

Driving home: And do not be fashioned according to this world.

The fashion industry is presented as part of the world, actively seeking to destroy modesty in women and decorum in men, leading to a 'cult of the ugly' that is bizarre and not neutral, but devil-driven.

And that fashion industry is seeking to destroy, on the one hand with women particularly, every last vestige of what it means to be modest. And with men, everything that needs to be decorous and neat and put together. And we live in the age of the cult of the ugly. It was a time when the handsome model would have his hair in place.

38:11 - 38:37 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin expounds Romans 12:1-2, presenting Paul's plea to believers to offer their bodies as living sacrifices and not be conformed to 'this world' or 'this age,' but to be…

The widespread use of cell phones and iPods, constantly bombarding the mind with sound, is given as an example of a worldly obsession driven by a sinister power, not a neutral phenomenon.

This obsession was sound. I go to pick up my wife the other night at the airport. And I watch. Everyone coming down the escalator's got something stuck in his ear.

38:53 - 39:03 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin expounds Romans 12:1-2, presenting Paul's plea to believers to offer their bodies as living sacrifices and not be conformed to 'this world' or 'this age,' but to be…

The obsession of a generation with 'jungle beat' and rock music, led by 'wild, irrational, immoral people,' is presented as a worldly influence driven by a sinister power, not a visitation of the Holy Ghost.

Not if you're thinking biblically. There's a sinister power. What's made a generation obsessed with the jungle beat and the wild, irrational, immoral people that have led the vanguard of a whole society into obsession with all forms of rock music? What's behind it, folks?

39:17 - 39:41 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin expounds Romans 12:1-2, presenting Paul's plea to believers to offer their bodies as living sacrifices and not be conformed to 'this world' or 'this age,' but to be…

Paul's injunction 'Be not conformed to this age' is explained as the world trying to 'squeeze you into its mold,' emphasizing that even after leaving the world, it actively pursues and pressures believers.

Paul says you've got to be aware that this age wants to squeeze you into its mold. Oh yes, you've left the world. But the world ain't left you. And because you've left the world, it doesn't say, oh well, we've lost one of our subjects.

40:03 - 40:18 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin expounds Romans 12:1-2, presenting Paul's plea to believers to offer their bodies as living sacrifices and not be conformed to 'this world' or 'this age,' but to be…

From Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, the story of Christian and his companion entering Vanity Fair illustrates the world's hostile reaction to those on the narrow road, showing it will not leave them alone.

It bothers them. You remember when Christian and his buddy entered Vanity Fair?

40:26 - 40:32 Read in full sermon

The point: Pray earnestly for discernment to see where your thinking about any area of life or relationship is being shaped and molded by the world, and repent of it.

The world's offerings are metaphorically called 'pails of pig salt,' contrasting them with the 'streams of inner delight' and 'fountains of joy' found in the kingdom, which the devil hates.

It's after you. It is determined because there's a devil behind it to squeeze you into its mold. The last thing the devil wants is subjects of the kingdom living by the laws and rules and the ethos of the kingdom. Because it shows the world thing, we don't need your pails of pig salt to be fulfilled people.

40:47 - 41:12 Read in full sermon

The point: Pray earnestly for discernment to see where your thinking about any area of life or relationship is being shaped and molded by the world, and repent of it.

The adoption of worldly musical forms, dance, mime, and acting troops in church to reach 'generation Xers' is presented as a tragic example of the world dictating worship and evangelism, rather than God's ordained means.

that's Paul's compelling appeal the broad easy road which leads to destruction is the road of unthinking undiscerning gullible absorption of the world's ways and thought and action and when it gets joined to religion it's tragic because then the world begins to dictate how we worship and because in the world everyone's obsessed with certain musical forms then surely if we're going to reach the world we've got to import them into the church and so you're going to win the world

43:30 - 44:18 Read in full sermon

The point: If you resent efforts by preachers or parents to wean you from the world, examine your heart, as it may indicate you love the world more than the Father.

The world is metaphorically described as a 'paramour' or 'whore' to illustrate the seductive and pleasing nature of worldly attachments, and why people resent being weaned from them.

The world is your paramour. The world is your whore. You don't like getting rid of her. She pleases you. She says sweet things to you.

51:35 - 51:46 Read in full sermon

The point: Instead of relying on worldly solutions like antivirus shots for STDs, advocate for biblical sexual purity (virginity before marriage, faithful marriage).

The worldly approach to sexually transmitted diseases, focusing on antivirus shots for young girls rather than advocating virginity and moral purity, illustrates the 'lust of the flesh' and the world's rejection of God's guidelines.

Promiscuous sex. And so the way to cure any epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases is to give all of the girls from nine years old onward the new antivirus shot.

55:17 - 55:33 Read in full sermon

The point: Instead of relying on worldly solutions like antivirus shots for STDs, advocate for biblical sexual purity (virginity before marriage, faithful marriage).

Obesity is cited as a national epidemic, illustrating the 'lust of the flesh' in succumbing to uncontrolled caloric intake and lack of activity, rather than using food for God-given purposes of nourishment and strength.

Obesity is a national epidemic. That's not because Pastor Martin's obsessed with fitness. You can find it in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and any paper. Both children and adults.

55:55 - 56:11 Read in full sermon

The point: Govern your caloric intake and activity to use food for nourishment and strength to live a useful life to God's glory, rather than succumbing to gluttony.

The rise of high school football and soccer games on the Lord's Day in the local area is used as an example of the 'lust for sports' and recreation, indicating a worldly influence.

The billions of medical expenses because people are succumbing to the lust of the flesh that is found between here and here. refusing to govern their caloric intake and their activity so that food is used for the purpose for which God gave it to bring us enjoyment, yes but to nourish and strengthen us to live a useful life to the glory of God for as long as we can in the best shape we can that's what he gave us food for lust of the flesh recreation Sunday sports

56:12 - 56:57 Read in full sermon

The point: Govern your caloric intake and activity to use food for nourishment and strength to live a useful life to God's glory, rather than succumbing to gluttony.

Martin shares a personal anecdote about his experience with cell phones, from their initial utility to the constant pressure for new models with unnecessary features, illustrating the 'lust of the eyes' and market-driven consumerism.

charge them to be ready to distribute to lay up a good stock of good works the lust of the eyes is I see it I want it I'll have it. Now let me get very specific. I think this nation has gone mad over telephones.

58:29 - 58:48 Read in full sermon

The point: Young people, do not be mesmerized and fascinated with what the world seems to hold out to you, as it is transient and insubstantial.

A commentator's quote likens the world to a 'bank that is breaking,' a 'foundation that is tottering,' and a 'mountain that is rumbling,' emphasizing its transient, insubstantial, and dangerous nature to dissuade young people from investing in it.

The world is passing away. The bank is breaking. It was never solvent. Will you deposit in it?

65:13 - 65:20 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not watch worldly movies whose plot lines and substance drip with lust, uncleanness, and foul language, but think on pure, honorable, and just things.

A quote from Dabney warns against overreacting when leaving one error, potentially creating an 'error of equal and opposite danger on the other end of the spectrum,' applied to the church's neglect of separation from the world.

That was part of our old fundy background. Well, there were some good things in that fundy background. And I think we've overreacted. And as Dabney said, when you leave an error here, and you're moving in this direction away from it, You think you're never closer to the truth when you're farthest away from the error when many times what you've done is you've created an error of equal and opposite danger on the other end of the spectrum.

66:53 - 67:19 Read in full sermon