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In The Garden Daily Devotional
Series: A Walk Through Matthew (Mathew 7)
Jesus The Teacher - Pt 5
"OPEN WIDE For Destruction"
Pastor Wayne Clabaugh
Scripture Reading: Matthew 7: 7-11
Scripture Text:"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 which go in thereat: Because
strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which
leadeth unto life, and few there be that find
it." Mat 7:13,14 (KJV)
There is not much use for the word "narrow' in
today's vocabulary. The big word of the day
concerning
media and news is the word "viral". It refers to
an explosion of exposure to the masses and is
considered to be something to seek after.
The Bible clearly tells us that going "viral" is
not always a good thing. It seems like
everything that goes
viral in the Christian World lately has had to
do with our short-comings and our failures as
Ambassadors for Christ. It reminds me of those
words of Christ in Matthew 24 where Jesus says,
"Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted,
and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all
nations for
my name's sake. And then shall many be offended,
and shall betray one another, and shall hate one
another. And many false prophets shall rise, and
shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall
abound, the love of many shall wax cold." Matt
24:9-12 (KJV)
Folks, He is speaking here of the last days. And
for those who like to hold to the theory that it
had to do
with the persecution of the Christians in and
around 70 AD - look at Matthew 24:8. It says
there.
"All these are the beginning of sorrows."
That phraseology and mindset is not 70's AD
speech. It is Apocalyptic speech - end-times
speech. It
is speech that fits the time we are living in
today.
I have questioned as I'm sure that you have
questioned, "WHAT'S GOING ON?" "It seems like
ALL HELL
is breaking loose and darkness is prevailing."
That's because you are living the prophecies of
Jesus. And the more evil that can be turned
loose and
the more doubt that can be placed in your
mind... the wider the road is paved for
destruction.
We have churches right now that are swallowing
the bait of the tempter - hook, line and sinker.
They
are being "eased upon" for lack of a better
term, to dress down when the come into the house
of God.
He doesn't care what you look like. he loves you
and you're being there is all that matters.
Okay, I'll buy
that one - But why does the preacher spend $125
for a pair of jeans that have the knees ripped
out
and the backside half gone - sporting a t-shirt
that it looks like he slept in, and a hair-style
that my three
year old grand daughter could do for him without
him spending and arm and a leg and three hours
at
some ladies salon somewhere? Jesus wasn't no
hippie! That's the way a lot of these guys are
wanting
to portray (betray) Him. He was and is the KING OF KINGS
AND THE LORD OF LORDS! Are you telling me
that you'd wear a pair of ripped up jeans and a
T to go see the QUEEN OF ENGLAND? I can
GUARANTEE YOU THAT YOU WOULDN'T. You wouldn't
get in. The Bible says, "Let the redeemed of
the Lord say so." That means more than just
proclaiming it with your mouth. It means
dressing the part.
What gets me is that many of these people will
wear a nurses uniform all week or a Suit and tie
to
teach at some university... but Sunday is a day
to "dress down" and hang with the folk. What's
wrong
with that? IT IS THAT WIDE ROAD TO DESTRUCTION
ALL OVER AGAIN and because the "SPIRITUAL GEEK CROWD" is doing it - they all
feel they need to follow along... play the game.
Oh how I thank God for that "strait gate", that
"narrow way" that leads to life and grace and
mercy and
relationship not with the fellowship... but with
the one who spread out His Arms and died for
you.
Drift away brother if you want to - allow the
emergent church to sweep you off you feet and
explain away
the gospel to be something that is about the
fellowship and readying the body of Christ for
eternity with
Him: an endless stream of worship and fellowship
with the family of God. Well let me tell you my
friend
I've got a sneaky suspicion that when the 24
elders threw their crowns at the feet of Jesus -
they weren't
wearing any cheap paper Burger King Crowns...
They were made of solid Gold and their robes of
the
finest cloth that was spun in such a way that no
Earthly manufacturer could replicate. Now, I
didn't
want to make this all about clothing here this
morning - but if the Lord is going to go to all
of that
extreme to give us the very best in heaven - why
shouldn't we be willing to put away the
"Spiritual geek
Jeans" and dress with the very best we have
every time we come into His presence?
WIDE IS THE GATE TO DESTRUCTION AND MANY SHALL
FOLLOW THE DRUM-BEAT OF THE
FALSE PROPHETS OF THE DAY... LET ME JUST SAY
THAT THE GOOD OLD TIME RELIGION IS
GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME. OH, I KNOW I WILL BE LAUGHED
AT FOR SAYING THAT, BUT I WILL
BE WALKING THROUGH THE NARROW DOOR HAVING LAID
DOWN MY DESIRE TO FOLLOW
THE CROWD AND TO KNOW HIM AND THE POWER OF HIS
RESURRECTION BEING MADE
WHAT CONFORMABLE UNTO HIS DEATH. Philippians
3:10
Let's pray.
Father - I am so tired of the song and dance of
religion today and I so desire for the worship
of truth and beauty in the spirit - like we used to yearn
for as a church. Now every worship leader and
every
religious prognosticator has an explanation of
what Jesus "REALLY" meant. O thou Christ of
burning
cleansing flame, send the fire, send the fire,
send the fire! Thy blood bought gift today we
claim,
Send the fire, send the fire, send the fire!
Look down and see this waiting host, Give us the
promised
Holy Ghost; We want another Pentecost, Send the
fire, send the fire, send the fire! In Jesus
Name.
Amen.
Words of Entire Song
Thou Christ of burning, cleansing flame,
Send the fire, send the fire, send the fire!
Thy blood bought gift today we claim,
Send the fire, send the fire, send the fire!
Look down and see this waiting host,
Give us the promised Holy Ghost;
We want another Pentecost,
Send the fire, send the fire, send the fire!
God of Elijah, hear our cry:
Send the fire, send the fire, send the fire!
To make us fit to live or die,
Send the fire, send the fire, send the fire!
To burn up every trace of sin,
To bring the light and glory in,
The revolution now begin,
Send the fire, send the fire, send the fire!
’Tis fire we want, for fire we plead,
Send the fire, send the fire, send the fire!
The fire will meet our every need,
Send the fire, send the fire, send the fire!
For strength to ever do the right,
For grace to conquer in the fight,
For power to walk the world in white,
Send the fire, send the fire, send the fire!
To make our weak hearts strong and brave,
Send the fire, send the fire, send the fire!
To live a dying world to save,
Send the fire, send the fire, send the fire!
O see us on Thy altar lay
Our lives, our all, this very day;
To crown the offering now we pray,
Send the fire, send the fire, send the fire!
William Booth
April 14, 1894
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