The NARROW ROAD… LUKE 13
Movie “ GREATER “ Brandon Burls worth – look at why bad things happen to good people….
List of narrow roads
Climb Everest
Dead from hospital infection
Be an Astronaut
High School athlete to Pro ( NBA, MLB, NFL NHL etc )
Die in air/space accident
Olympian
Dead by lightning
Die by shark attack
TEXT
Luke 13:22-35 ( Jesus’ WORDs )
STRIVE to enter through the narrow door ( NASB )
Greek Word agonize. ( be contending, be struggling )
Jesus in the garden sweating drops of blood
Define STRIVE…..
Early use – “life as a struggle with a prize….”
1 Thessalonians 2:2 exertion, facing obstacles, dangers
1Corinthians 9:25-27 striving w/ denial,
2 Timothy 4:4-8 athletic discipline(5), right ordering of priorities
Colossians 1:29-30 goal is not just our salvation, but that of others too.
Colossians2:1-2 Paul struggles for the church
Colossians 4, Romans 15 – prayer is crucial
Luke 22:44 conflict, tension, focusing of powers.
LUKE 13….
Narrow door
Sorrow over Jerusalem’s lack of faith.
Prophecy “not see me until “
Gal 5:19-26. Mirror images…?
Need for repentance
THE OFFER
2 Chronicles 7:14…. black and white…… ( see whole text )
12 the Lord appeared to him at night and said:
“I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices.
13 “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. 16 I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.
THE REALITY
24b. for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door,
Wide road interstate????
Door is closing Luke 13
TEXT – 34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the citythat kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathersher brood under her wings, and you would not have it! 35 Behold, your house is left to you desolate; and I say to you, you will not see Me until the timecomes when you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
CALLED TO BE
2 Peter 3
3 Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. 2 I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.
3 Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.[a]
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be?You ought to live holy and godly lives12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.[b]
Luke 13:22-35
STRIVE to enter through the narrow door