Speaker: Rev. Mikha Sanda Toding
Matthew 7: 12-14
7:12. "Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
7:13. "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are manywho go in by it.
7:14. "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are fewwho find it.
As the outline, we are confronted to two gates in this world.
But, the gate which is shown by God is narrow gate, that is gate which leads to everlasting life until the perfect one.
Luke 13:24
13:24. "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
To enter narrow gate, we certainly have to strife but we will be able to meet God.
The wide gate is comfortable for doing sin for flesh, but it only goes to perdition.
The proof that we are entering throughnarrow gate:
Matthew 7: 12-14
7:12. "Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
7:13. "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are manywho go in by it.
7:14. "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are fewwho find it.
As the outline, we are confronted to two gates in this world.
- Narrow gate, that is gate which leads to everlasting life.
- Wide gate, which leads to everlasting perdition.
But, the gate which is shown by God is narrow gate, that is gate which leads to everlasting life until the perfect one.
Luke 13:24
13:24. "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
To enter narrow gate, we certainly have to strife but we will be able to meet God.
The wide gate is comfortable for doing sin for flesh, but it only goes to perdition.
The proof that we are entering throughnarrow gate:
- Having died to sins, we might live for righteousness.
1 Peter 2:24
2:24. who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed.
Jesus struggled first to die on the cross to redeem our lives.
Now, we have to struggle for having died to sins and living for righteousness.
The proccesses are:- Repent= stop doing sins and return to God.
Mark1:4
1:4. John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. - Water baptism= new birth.
- Repent= stop doing sins and return to God.
- We want to serve God as true and faithful servant.
Mark 10:44
10:44. "And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.
Only a few who want to be true and faithful servant!
Jesus came to the world not to be served, but to serve and give His life to be ransom for many people.
Signs of life who servesas true and faithfull servantare as follows:- Doing God's will, not his/her own will.
John 4:34
4:34. Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.
To do the will of God means:- We commit our service and ministry as our duty, without insisting any right.
Isaiah 49:4
49:4. Then I said, 'I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and in vain; Yet surely my just reward is with the LORD, And my work with my God.'"
Our reward is with God and cannot be charged against by anyone.
Luke 17:7-10
17:7. "And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and sit down to eat'?
17:8. "But will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink'?
17:9. "Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not.
17:10. "So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.'" - Prioritize spiritual concern more than self-interest.
Philippians 2:2-3
2:2. fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
2:3. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
It equals to life who is willing to sacrifice anything (time, money, strength, feeling, etc). Only one thing which may not be sacrified that is true teaching Word.
- We commit our service and ministry as our duty, without insisting any right.
- To struggle for finishing God's work, it means we minister till the end.
2 Timothy 4:6-8
4:6. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.
4:7. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
4:8. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
The end of man's life is the death or until Jesus comes on second time.
- Doing God's will, not his/her own will.
- To struggle to worship God in spirit and truth, to enter to tearing of flesh.
John 4:23
4:23. "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.
Signs of worship to God in spirit and truth areas follows:- Clean hands,meaningthere is no sins, but only good work.
Psalms 24:3-4
24:3. Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place?
24:4. He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully.
Revelation 19:8
19:8. And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. - Worship in the truth of Word= having pure heart.
Pure heart is heart which is able to keep the pure Word, heart which has already been purified from sin.
Psalms 119:11
119:11. Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You!
If the heart is dirty, dirty word will come out.
If the heart is evil, evil word will come out.
On the contrary, if the heart only keeps the Word, and has already been purified by the Word, the mouth will be clean to worship God only.
- Clean hands,meaningthere is no sins, but only good work.
- God pours blessing for us, not only physical blessing but also spiritual one.
Psalms 24:5
24:5. He shall receive blessing from the LORD, And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
Spritiual blessing is Holy Spirit who pours love of God into our live, so we are not easily dissappointed and desperate.
Romans 5:5
5:5. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. - First fruitsblessing. That is blessing of the renewal of life untilwebecome first fruitorperfect God's bride who is ready to greet Jesus' second coming.
James 5:18
5:18. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.