Finding God as End or Means: Christian Perspective

The book of Judges describes the life of Israel in the promised land from the death of Joshua to the rise of the monarchy.

God raised up leaders, known as judges, to supplant the enemy and restore the land to peace.

The story of Micah and his mother shows how Israel fell back into idolatry repeatedly.

The Levite priest serves God for personal gain, using God as a means to an end.

Music Music Now I've titled this message today, Is God an End or a Means for You? Is God an end or a means for you? In the book of Judges, there's an account which provides the believer, that is you and me, with a sobering perspective of life without God, but we live and we act like we do know him. Yes, indeed. There are people who are doing that and the Bible has a wonderful story of an account for our day for us to learn from and to glean from. And this is the only place in scripture where we will find the word of God stating, In those days there was no king in Israel, and every man did what was right in his own sight. And I believe it's three or four times in this one particular chapter that states that in those days, and it's in the book of Judges. But in those days there was no king of Israel. Every man did what was right in his own sight. And the book of Judges describes the life of Israel in the promised land from the death of Joshua to the rise of the monarchy. And this book tells the accounts of frequent apostasy which provokes the divine judgment and the divine discipline of God. In other words, God poured his wrath out on the people. And so that's what this account is really telling us and showing us. And it also tells of the Israelites' urgent appeals to God in the time of crisis which moved the Lord to raise up leaders or better known as judges. The book of Judges was a time when God raised up leaders. And they weren't kings, but they were leaders and they were known as judges. And with these judges, God used them to supplant the enemy and restore the land to peace once again. So in the book of Judges, we have several judges, different judges that the gospel shows us. And each one of these were used as restoration. But after the death of Joshua, Israel, living in the promised land, quickly forgot her God and all the wonderful acts and the miracles that he had done in bringing her out of the severe bondage that they had lived in for so long. They easily forgot. In this story, in the book of Judges, in Judges 17, the principal characters are three people. in Judges 17, verse 1. It's a short little book, but it's so packed and so powerful with a testimony for us today, with an example, with an exhortation for us today. And the principal, I guess you could say, characters are three. A man by the name of Micah who has stolen his mother's money. I don't sense that in this story that Micah and his mother are really very close. In fact, we can see that this is an example that there was no king in Israel and that the people basically did what was right in their own sight or their own eyes because this family really is portraying how far they had fallen into sin and they were wallowing in their sin. Micah's mother who upon getting the money back tells her son that she is going to turn their money into a god and sets up idolatry in their family and you'll see in this account also how the mother lied to the son in saying she was dedicating all of the silver to the Lord when in fact she gives 200 of the 1100 shekels of silver she pretends to dedicate all of it, just like in the New Testament account of Ananias and Sapphira. So how Israel slipped and fell back into idolatry repeatedly, we can truly see that in this story. But as we read today, notice too that when the images were made, that Micah the son by his mother's persuasion had not only well accepted these graven images of idolatry but was greatly pleased and in love with them. And there's a strangely bewitching thing that happens when the people fall into a trap or a snare of idolatry. There's something bewitching. There's something of divination that happens when people fall into the trap or the snare of idolatry. I would like you, before we begin reading there, if you would, go with me to 1 Peter 1.15 and let's look at what Peter is telling us here. God has called us to be holy. And Peter is telling us that in 1 Peter 1.15. And he says, but just as he who has called you is holy, Be holy also in all you do, for it is written, be holy because I'm holy. So we're going to learn about Micah's mother and what she was made up of. And another main character, besides Micah and his mother, is the third one. A Levite priest who comes along and Micah hires him and the priest really says what he wants to hear. Micah hires him for 10 shekels of silver a year. And also throws in a tunic and his food. Oh, and also the idols. He throws those in too. So the young Levite priest proves himself to be a true hireling who is only looking for the best offer. And God, for this young priest, turns out to be a means to an end. You're going to see that in the story where God turns out to be a means for an end for this priest. In him serving God was only for money, not for love of his God. And he put a value, you're going to see that, where he puts a value upon himself and his religious service activities were just a means to an end. And he used God as a means to an end to get what he wanted in his service to God. And he was looking for the best offer, the highest bidder in his service to God. We're going to see that. And let us begin with Judges 17, verse 1. Now a man named Micah from the hill country of Ephraim said to his mother, the 1100 shekels of silver that were taken from you and about which I heard you utter a curse I have that silver with me well really why he gave the silver back and he was coming to confess is because he heard the curse and he understood that that curse would carry some weight so he had fear so he brought it back and confessed to his mother and his mother says Oh, the Lord bless you, my son. And when he returned the 1,100 shekels of silver to his mother, she said, Listen to the solemn vow that she made. I solemnly consecrate my silver to the Lord for my son to make a carved image and a cast idol, and I will give it back to you. So he returned the silver to his mother. and she took 200 shekels of silver and gave them to the silversmith who made them into the image and the idol and they were put in Micah's house. She only took 200 of those shekels when in fact she dedicated all of it. So she basically lied to her son there. Now this man had a shrine. He made an ephod and some idols and he installed one of his sons as his priest. In those days, Israel had no king and everyone did as he saw fit. So he even installed one of his own sons, ordained him. And that's not the way I remind you that it was done in those days that a priest would serve in the temple. and a young Levite from Bethlehem in Judah who had also been living within the clan of Judah left that town in search of some other place to stay. And on his way he came to Micah's house in the hill country of Ephraim. Micah asked him, where are you from? I am a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah, he said, and I'm looking for a place to stay. He could have really said, I'm looking for a job. That's what he really could have said. Verse 10, and then Micah said to him, live with me and be my father and priest. And I will give you 10 shekels of silver a year, your clothes and your food. The Levite agreed to live with him. And the young man was to him like one of his sons. Then Micah installed the Levite And the young man became his priest And lived in his house And Micah said Now I know that the Lord will be good to me Since this Levite became my priest Do you see the hint that he's giving there? He really cared more for what he could get out of God With that statement Now I know the Lord will be good to me since this Levite has become my priest. In verse 18, we're going to read a few scriptures, 1 through 6. And in those days, Israel had no king. In those days, the tribe of Danite was seeking a place of their own where they might settle because they had not yet come into an inheritance among the tribes of Israel. So the Danite sent five warriors from Zorah and Ishto to spy out the land and explore it. These men represented all their clans and they told them, go explore the land. And the men entered the hill country of Ephraim and came to the house of Micah where they spent the night. Then they were near Micah's house and they recognized the voice of the young Levite. So they turned in there and asked him, who brought you here and what are you doing in this place? Why are you here? And he told them what Micah had done for him and he said he's hired me and I'm his priest. And then they said to him, please inquire of God to learn whether our journey will be successful. And the priest answered them and said, go in peace, your journey has the Lord's approval. Verse 7, so the five men left and came to Leish where they saw the people were living in safety. Like the Sidonians, Unexpecting and very secure. And since their land lacked nothing, They were prosperous. And also they lived a long way From the Sidonians And had no relationship with anyone else. Verse 8. When they returned to Zorah and Estol, Their brothers asked them, How did you find these things? They answered, Come on, let us attack them. We've seen that the land is very good. Aren't you going to do something? Don't hesitate to go there and take it over. And when you get there, you will find an unsuspecting people and a spacious land that God has put into your hands, a land that lacks nothing, whatever. And 600 men from the clan of the Danites armed for the battle set out from Zoranisdol. And on their way, they set up camp near Ziroth. Jerem in Judah. And this is why the place west of Kiroth, Jerem, is called Mahaniah, Dan, to this day. And from there they went on to the hill country of Ephraim and came to Micah's house. When the five men who had spied out the land of Laish said to their brothers, Do you know that one of these houses has an ephod? other household gods a carved image and a cast idol now you know what to do so they turned in there and they went to the house of the young Levite at Micah's place and greeted him and the 600 Danites armed for battle stood at the entrance of the gate verse 17 and the five men who had spied out the land went inside and took the carved images, the ephod and all the other household gods and the cast idol while the priest and 600 armed men stood at the entrance of the gate. And when these men went to Micah's house, they took the carved images and the ephod and all the other household gods and the cast idol and the priest said, what are you doing? Verse 19. And they answered him. Be quiet. Don't say a word. Come with us and be our father and our priest. Isn't it better that you serve a tribe and a clan in Israel as a priest rather than just in one man's household? And then the priest was glad. And he took the ephod and the other household gods and the carved images and he went along with the people, putting their little children and their livestock and their possessions in front of them. They turned and left and went away. Verse 22, And when they'd gone some distance from Micah's house, the men who lived near Micah were called together and overtook the Danites. And as they shouted after them, the Danites turned and said to Micah, What's the matter with you that you called out to your men to fight? And he replied, You took the gods I made and my priests and you went away. What else do I have? How can you ask, what's the matter with you? And the Danites answered, Don't argue with us or some hot-tempered men will attack you and your family and lose your lives. So the Danites went their way and Micah, seeing that they were too strong for him, went back home. This poor wretched man's cry after this whole story. You took the gods that I made. And you took my priest. What else do I have? In John 8, 28. And Jesus said, when you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one that I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The one who has sent me is with me and he's not left me alone for I always do what pleases him. And this will be our heart when we're crucified with him that will speak what the Father instructs us to speak. and that we'll always do, dear saints, what pleases the Father. Because he alone is worthy. That's why we should make Jesus Christ the end of all and everything in our lives. Because he alone is worthy. He only is Lord, a holy Lord, a holy God. Because he alone is worthy and our obedience of love and adoration should be to him. He is a holy God. He is worthy of all glory and all honor. And in Revelations 1.5, if you would look with me, please. In Revelation 1.5, And from Christ Jesus, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead and the ruler over all the kings of the earth, to him who loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and he's made us kings and priests to his God and to his Father, To him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he's coming with the clouds and every eye will see him, even when they who pierced him and all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of him. Even so, amen. I am the Alpha and I am the Omega. The beginning and the ends is the Lord. Jesus Christ is the king of all kings And he will have the reward of his suffering Will you be one who will devote your life to him Because he's truly worthy of your obedience and of your love He washed you from your wretched profane and your vile sins And now he's in the process of making you and making me a king and a priest. He's made us kings and priests to his God and to his Father. Doing all for God is what it's saying. Just as Jesus did when he was on the earth. Doing everything for his Father. Doing what pleased his Father. See, God sends out his true servants and they will always point people to Jesus. True servants of God will lift Jesus up and will say what the Father tells them to say, not what they want to say. And I remind you that what God's servants speak will always line up and it will agree with the holy word of God. And it will not be a doctrine or a philosophy created in man's image for self-glory or self-gain. Always make Jesus first in your life. And make him your master and the lover of your soul. And make him your end to all means. And make him your all and your all. Always keep your eye fixed on Jesus. And you'll never go wrong. Or you won't be guilty of profaning the holiness of God. With Jesus, make him your all and all. Make him your end to all means. Make him your all in all. And with Jesus now king in your life, you will not desire to do what is right in your own sight. You will not compromise the truth of God. There is no way you would even desire to compromise. Make Jesus always king in your life. The End Our message today is called, Is There Hope for a Restless Soul? As a believer in Jesus Christ, there is no doubt that there are seasons of restlessness in our growing and maturing years as a Christian. Restlessness, or discontentment, comes as part of our package and nature as a human being when we are born into this world. We need to look at the word restlessness according to the Webster's Dictionary. It means lacking or denying of rest, uneasiness, continuous moving, unquietness as a restlessly. Restlessness is characterized by the manifesting of unrest, especially of the mind. And it means to be changeful and discontented and ever-changing. Well, we learn as we grow in Jesus Christ that restlessness becomes less and less because God does not want us living in a state of discontentment, milk, contentment, or sorrow that comes with the package when we were born into this earth. You see, restlessness is the opposite of godly peace. Nelson's Bible Dictionary defines peace in both the Old and the New Testament for us. An overview of the Old Testament meaning of peace was completeness, soundness, and well-being of the total person. This peace was considered God obtained by following the law as described in Psalms 119 verse 165 which declares great peace have they who love your law nothing shall offend them or make them stumble or in Isaiah chapter 32 verse 17 which tells us the effect of righteousness will be peace internal and external and the result the fruit of and conclusion of righteousness will be quietness and confident trust forever. Continuing in Nelson's definition of peace, he says, Peace sometimes had a physical meaning suggesting security and contentment, prosperity and absence of war. The traditional Jewish greeting, Shalom, was used for peace. Now in the New Testament, peace often refers to inner tranquility tranquility, and poise of the Christian whose trust is in God through Jesus Christ. And this understanding was originally expressed in the Old Testament writings about the coming of Messiah. The peace that Jesus described of when he spoke when he was on the earth was a combination of hope and trust and quiet in the mind and soul brought about by a reconciliation with God. Such peace was proclaimed by the host of angels at Christ's birth and by Jesus himself in his sermon on the mount and during his ministry. Jesus also taught about this kind of peace at the Lord's Supper shortly before his death. And lastly, Apostle Paul later wrote in Romans 5.1 that such peace and spiritual blessedness was a direct result of faith in Jesus Christ. Romans 5.1 Therefore, since we are justified, acquitted, declared righteous, and given right standing with God through faith, let us grasp the fact that we have the peace and reconciliation to hold and enjoy peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ the Messiah, the Anointed One. So, all in all, we see Christian spiritual peace is founded in our Lord Jesus Christ. Now moving on, we learn according to God's word that if restlessness and discontentment continue in our lives, we should examine the reasons for it, because both of these are opposite of peace. And this kind of spiritual peace, remember, is found only in Jesus Christ, who is the Prince of Peace. Discontentment with a lukewarm state of Christianity and sorrow because of our own lack of commitment or a sense that God is preparing us for something else and something bigger can all cause a person to become restless and discontent. I remember a time a number of years ago when we were visiting a church. We were asked by the pastor to pray for the people who wanted prayer. So I stepped up to pray for a lady who did ask for prayer. She told me she wanted me to pray for her to have a million dollars so she could do the work that God had for her to do. I told her that she needed to grow in the knowledge and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and develop a close fellowship with him, and then he would show her what he had for her to do. You see, many people want to put the cart in front of the horse. She was like a wandering soul looking for things that would satisfy her soul's desire with worldly possessions. She could not rest or have peace in Christ her Savior and be content to grow and mature in him, as the scripture directs in Colossians 1.28, which tells us, Him we preach and proclaim, warning and admonishing and instructing everyone in all wisdom, comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God, that we may present every person mature, full grown, fully initiated, complete, and perfect in Christ the Anointed One. As I mentioned, people who have discontentment with the lukewarm state of Christianity and sorrow is basically twofold it is because of their own lack of commitment to grow in Christ their Savior or is that they have a sense that God is preparing them for something else something bigger and all can cause a person to become restless and discontent but guess what dear listener Each of these causes has a solution. God does not want his people to live in a continual state of restlessness when his answers and roadmaps for all seekers of the truth are written in his book of life. Jesus has promised us peace. And this we must understand first of all things. In Matthew chapter 10, verses 34 through 42, Jesus said, Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to put asunder a man from his father, a daughter from her mother, and a newly married wife from her mother-in-law, and a man's foe they will be of his own household. Verse 37. He who loves and takes more pleasure in father or mother more than in me is not worthy of me. And he who loves and takes pleasure in son or daughter more than in me is not worthy of me. Verse 38. And he does not take up his cross and follow me, cling steadfastly to me, conforming wholly to my example in living, if need be, and in dying also, is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his lower life will lose it in the higher life. Verse 39, whoever finds his lower life will lose it, the higher life, and whoever loses his lower life on my account will find it, the higher life. He who receives and welcomes and accepts you, receives and welcomes and accepts me. And he who receives and welcomes and accepts me, receives and welcomes and accepts him who sent me. Verse 41. Hallelujah. And in Micah 7, verse 6, For the son dishonors the father, and the daughter rises up against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, a man's enemies are the men members of his own household. Well, God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ have shown his people who have ears to hear that he separates the sheep from the goats. those who are hungry for the truth will grasp the fact that Jesus Christ would bring peace into their poor wretched wandering soul and give them rest Isaiah chapter 9 verse 6 declares for a child unto us is born unto us a son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace During his lifetime, Jesus gave his peace to those who believed on him. Peace I leave with you. My own peace I now give you and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed, and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled. John 14, verse 27. Jesus distinguished his peace from peace as the world understands it. Peace in Jesus Christ is likened to the absence of war on the earth. And we can certainly see and distinguish the difference in peace today in our world in this year of 2022 as the times of uncertainty grow dimmer and dimmer. For instance, the wars around the world and the horrible atrocities that we read about regarding human slavery, children being stolen and used for human pleasures all around the world, rampant pedophilia even amongst the so-called pastors and church leaders. We see wars that are instigated for personal monetary gain by our own government, disease that was created by sick masterminds in laboratories and spread around the world. They even had patents on these vaccines that were given years earlier before the release of the man-made pandemic. the plan with this whole sick thing was to murder, maim and injure people until they eventually died of the poisonous injections which they forced people to have in every nation now the last one I will mention is the sick and vile involvement of so-called leadership in the church who join in with the world by forcing their congregations to take the vaccine before they could come back to church and then to find out these churches were being paid off by the government to enforce this mandate and many of these churches even provided and administered the vaccines right in their own churches. No, there is one more thing I will mention. Now with the overturning of Roe versus Wade ruling by the Supreme Court, we now have church leaders joining in with the protesters who are for pro-abortion. Think about that. They are even in favoring of murdering precious little babies in the womb and also even after the fact when they are born. May I tell you why? Well, even if you don't want to know, I am compelled to tell you because the world needs to know about the great inhumane atrocities that are being performed on God's precious innocent little human souls. The abortionists sell these baby parts for human consumption by putting them in foodstuff that are sold by some of the leading name brand companies that you and I have used and purchased. The leading companies have been around for years, and they are compromised and complicit with the cabal, which is the secret devil-worshipping society, and they are people who are guilty of crimes against humanity. You need to do your homework and learn about what they do with the blood of these little children who are born and immediately murdered on the abortionist table, also those precious ones who are kidnapped and put into DUMBS beneath the earth. DUMBS is an acronym for Deep Underground Military Base, and the word for you to search out is ADRENOCOME. A-D-R-E-N-O-C-H-R-O-M-E. This is definitely not a conspiracy theory. This is the truth and God hates it with a passion in people who are going to burn in hell for their wickedness and horrible crimes against humanity. First known use of adrenochrome was in 1940. Can I tell you additionally that many church leaders are involved in human trafficking and sex slave business with women and children and infants? You can do your own homework here. God's word in Lamentations chapter 4 verse 14 declares, The false prophets and priests wander staggering in the streets as if blind. They had so polluted themselves with blood, it was not lawful for men to touch their garments. Isaiah chapter 56 verses 10 and 11 tells us, Israel's watchmen are blind. They are all without knowledge. They are all dumb dogs. They cannot bark, dreaming, lying down. They love to slumber. Yes, the dogs are greedy. They never have enough. And such are the shepherds who cannot understand. They have all turned to their own ways, each one to his own gain, from every quarter one and all. Jesus in Matthew chapter 15 verse 13 declared, Let them alone and disregard them. They are blind guides and teachers. and if a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall in a ditch. Many of the compromised leaders in the church today are just as those in the days of old and use the masks of Christianity to hide behind. Many of the so-called men and women of God have written many books related to Christianity. Jude 13 declares, All they leave behind them is shame and disgrace, like dirty foam left along the beach by the wild waves. They wander around looking as bright stars, but ahead of them is the everlasting gloom and darkness that God has prepared for them. Deuteronomy 28, verses 28 and 29 declares, The Lord will smite you with madness and blindness and dismay of mind and heart, and you shall grope at noonday as the blind grope in the darkness. You see, these kind of people can recite scripture and can talk and preach like a pro but they have no genuine foundation or love or attachment to Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Dear Church, Jesus brought reconciliation between God and man. Paul in Romans 5.1 declares Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with our God through our Lord Jesus Christ. So we have peace only with God through faith, through our relationship and fellowship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Faith is the requirement for this supernatural God-given peace in a believer's life. Peace is the opposite of discontentment in a wandering soul, restless soul. People who have sold their souls to Satan's system called the world will have no rest for their soul, no matter how many sermons they have preached or books they have written. They are spiritual adulterers and are likened to blind bats and blind men. there is no hope for a wandering restless soul such as these because they have sold their souls for the world's pleasures because the peace that Jesus spoke about was a combination of hope and trust and quietness in the mind and soul and is brought about by the reconciliation of God Deuteronomy chapter 28 verse 29 declares about spiritual adulterers You shall grope in the bright sunlight just as a blind man gropes in the darkness. You shall not prosper in anything you do, and you will be oppressed and robbed continually, and nothing will save you. You see, some sell their souls outright to Satan for the gratification of their lusts. They are like Esau, who irrevocably sold his birthright for a bowl of savory meat, something that tantalized his taste buds and sensual pleasures. In 1 Kings 21, verse 20, So my enemy has found me, Ahab exclaimed to Elijah. Yes, Elijah answered, I have come to place God's curse upon you because you have sold yourself to the devil. The Lord is going to bring great harm to you and sweep you away. That is the Living Bible translation. You see, those who have sold their souls to Satan, the devil, there is no hope for their wandering and restless souls. And when we talk about hope for a restless soul, we're talking about those who profess to be a believer in Jesus Christ, not about those who wear a mask and parade as a follower of Jesus. Jesus taught that war will be waged within the church. Dear listener in Jesus Christ we now have a state of spiritual warfare in the church of the living God right now in this day in which we live Jesus taught in the books of the four gospels that war would be waged within the church by saying that there would be false shepherds and false sheep and there would be wheat and tares and there would be good and bad fish and he taught as well in Matthew chapter 5 verse 8 that those who are single-minded in their devotion and love for God are blessed by God. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. At the same time, within the church, Jesus taught, there will be those who would satisfy the pleasures of the flesh. They would be the proud, worldly, and back-fighting ones. But take heart, the return of Jesus Christ will fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah for the future peace when the unrighteous will be separated from the true believer and will be destroyed. Matthew chapter 13 beginning in verse 35 Jesus declared that it might be fulfilled which were spoken by the prophet saying I will open my mouth in parables. I will utter things kept in secret from the foundation of the world. The parable of the terrors explained. Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house, and his disciples came with him, saying, Explain to us the parable of the tares in the field. And he said to them, He who sows the good seed is the son of man. The field is the world, and the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is at the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Verse 40. Back to our title, which, remember, is entitled, Is There Hope for a Restless Soul? One of the great promises that we have as a true child of God is that God will restore the brokenhearted, which also means he will restore our souls. Psalms 23, verse 3, he declares, He refreshes and restores my life myself, and he leads me into the paths of righteousness, uprightness, and right standing with him, not for my earning it, but for his name's sake. Hallelujah. And it is for sure that the healing within a broken heart and the soul is truly a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. David recognized God as a shepherd and the one who loves him and cares for him. You know, sometimes God uses unusual circumstances to bring a restless, wandering soul back into a sheepfold. And there's a testimony of a mother's love, and yet the love of God demonstrated in her search for her wayward daughter. This is much like the parable of the prodigal son. And the story goes, A mother whose daughter had behaved very badly and at length had run away from home thought of a singular plan in order to find the wanderer and draw her back to her home again. After having exhausted the ordinary means, she had her own picture placed and fixed on a large flyer or a poster and pasted it all around the walls of town where she supposed that her daughter would be hiding. The portrait without name had these words, I have loved you always. Crowds stopped by and looked at the strange flyer trying to guess its meaning. Days went by and the young girl at last passed by and lifting her eyes to the flyer thought, can it be? Yes, truly, it is a picture of my mother. Those eyes of hers are full of tenderness. I know them from childhood. Why is it here, she thought. She approaches near and reads, I have loved you always. And she understood this was a message for her. Her mother loved her and forgave her and pardoned her. And those words transformed her. And never had she felt her sin or ingratitude so deeply. She was unworthy of such love. My mother always loved me, she cried out loud. And if ever she doubted that love, if in moments of distress she feared to return home, these doubts were all gone now. She set out for home, and at last she crossed the threshold and was in her mother's arm. Oh, my child, my daughter, cried the mother as she pressed her precious, repentant daughter to her heart. I have never ceased to love you. Can we know, dear church, this is how our Heavenly Father feels about his beloved children And the restoration of the restless soul depends solely upon one relationship with Jesus Christ This mother stood in the gap by prayer and doing what she could do for her young daughter And the good ending is that this girl repented of her sinful ways and her ingratitude and returned home. the darkness of separation from God Almighty is overcome through Jesus Christ in John chapter 1 verses 4 and 5 the word says in him was life and that life was the light of all mankind the light shines in the darkness and the darkness does not overcome it those who may wonder how can my soul be restored dear one The focus is on God's work in our lives. We cannot restore ourselves because restoration comes by way of God through Jesus Christ. Yes, we can stand in the gap for the restoration of wayward souls such as our loved ones, our children, family members, and of course those who have never accepted the wonderful and priceless call of salvation. For those who are discouraged because of the signs of the time, make your focus on Jesus Christ and keep your eyes fixed on your heavenly father and he will renew your life through his word as you study it daily and draw your nourishment from it he will even enliven your hope and your joy regarding life now in him and will empower you for the anticipation of your life in eternity with him which is forever we have the mandate through God's word in 1 Peter 1, verses 14-16. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance, but just as He who has called you is holy. So be holy in all you do, for it is written, Be holy because I am holy. Let us set our affection on things above and not on the things of the world. And remember, dear listener, Let us be faithful in our prayers for the lost and the dying in the world. This is our part as a true believer in Jesus Christ. I've given much thought about Jesus' sobering crucial words he spoke in Matthew's gospel, chapter 7, verse 14, when he said, Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. And Luke's gospel in chapter 13, verse 24, the word also says, Strive to enter by the narrow door. Force yourselves through it. For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. Well, we have another message which is entitled, Christ Commands a Personal Narrow Gate Experience. And you can hear that message by going to our website, www.shininglight7ministries.com. And when you come to the opening or the home page, you will see a link called Audio Christian Teaching Library. library, and you will find that message again called, Christ Commands a Narrow Gate Experience. In this message today, which I have titled, Why So Few Find the Narrow Gate, I will teach the major reason for the failure of multitudes of professing Christians in this endeavor. Multitudes of millions who call themselves Christians fall short of eternal life, but yet all the while, while going through the motions of Christianity, they think that they are saved. But we must understand, this is gross self-deception. This is really self-annihilation and self-destruction of one's own soul. This is not the fault of the pure and unadulterated word of God, because his word never returns to him void. It will always accomplish the purpose for which he had sent it and spoke through his prophets and mainly through his only begotten son, Jesus Christ, our Savior. Falling short of eternal life is not the fault of the Savior's saving power and his awesome might to raise one from the dead because he says, look, I will do a new thing and behold, I make all things new. This self-deception is not the spirit of adoption's failure to take control of our sinful flesh and his ability to lead us upward into eternal life, but he assures us our salvation and gives us the right and longing to affectionately and reverently call out to our creator God saying, Abba, Father, my Father, I love you. No, indeed dear church this is not the failure of any one of these reasons why so few fail to find the narrow gate by which they might enter into eternal life I think we have to look beyond blaming God or blaming his word or blaming others or blaming God's providence and his divine ability through his promised helper to save and do this wonderful and awesome work of regeneration and restoration of our soul life. Too many people practice the blame game and stand on their innocence in practically every aspect of their lives, especially the knowledge of the truth of God and the truth of its practical application. They contend they didn't understand something that a five-year-old could understand and know the difference between right and wrong. And with this kind of practice or pretense, one is really trying to outwit or outsmart God. And guess who will lose? We need to understand these sobering and crucial words that Jesus spoke when he said, narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to eternal life. And there are few who find it. Did you hear that? Few find that narrow gate. Does that cause you to sit up and say, Lord, let me hear you today. Open my spiritual eyes and ears and show me without a doubt that I may know that I know that I am not living a lie within myself and that I am not self-deceived in a self-destructive mode. Why is it, dear church, that so few find their way to that narrow gate, but yet multitudes of millions of professing Christians think that they have. They have no fear, nor have any inkling that they are perishing, but rather feel quite safe and secure in their unsaved condition and state, thinking that God loves them just the way they are. there is a lie that was begun by a man in the 1500s whose name was John Calvin the lie is believed by so many professing Christians and it is called once saved always saved doctrine this lie perpetuated by John Calvin is called eternal security this practice or doctrine in many multitudes of millions of people in the church causes them to let down in their quest for righteousness and truth and purity in their Christian growth. Many live like the world and there is nothing that is off limits to them because of this false and misleading doctrine. In the warning given to the seven churches in the book of Revelation, chapter 3, verse 16, the word declares, Because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth. The Lord has nothing good to say about those in his church who are lukewarm in their profession of belonging to him. They thought they had everything that they needed concerning their Christian estate. But God said they had nothing. They were lukewarm in their pursuit of him. They were lacking conviction. They lacked the courage and the strength or just the conscientiousness to follow Christ's commands. These were disgusting to him and that is why he said he would spew them out of his mouth. They were invited to turn from their indifference. And Jesus is pictured in these verses as standing before the door of their hearts waiting for them to open it up to him. The door of our hearts can only be opened from the inside. I hope to provoke you to thought today with this word and cause you to truly examine your own heart and your deeds and your actions, your words, to see that they conform with God's word, what his word tells us, what we must do in order to find that narrow gate and enter into eternal life through it and to finish our walk on the straight and narrow path or way. This is not an impossible endeavor, dear ones. The great creator doesn't bring the hope of eternal life up to your door and then say, Aha, I fooled you, and then turn around and send everyone to hell. This is a steady and ongoing work that is to be taken very serious and is to be accomplished by co-laboring with God's Holy Spirit. He will bring you up to that narrow gate and show you the way through it. And He will keep you on that straight and narrow path as you remain faithful and true to Him. Your feet won't slip and you will not deviate to the left or to the right. But precious Holy Spirit will keep you and He will give you the discernment and he will give you a tender and sensitive heart, and you will produce the good fruit of righteousness as you learn to walk in the Spirit and keep step with the Spirit. So then, why is it that so few find that narrow gate? What are some of the reasons or hindrances that prevent so many millions from realizing or grasping and attaining eternal life through this narrow gate. Well, the reasons and explanation are plentiful and without a doubt show why millions will perish because of self-deception and free will choice to do as they chose regarding their share in eternal life. You see, you personally are responsible for understanding what you must do in this endeavor. You have a free will to choose or not to choose. And once you have heard of the necessity of salvation and the forgiveness of your sins through Jesus Christ's blood sacrifice upon the cross for entrance into eternal life, then it became your responsibility to seek after it with all of your heart, all of your soul, all of your mind, and your whole being. Mine too. This was not a suggestion or an offer to be tried out. This was not to be delayed or put off. You were to attain this knowledge and hold fast to it. You are to consider this knowledge and new way of life precious. You were to hold this truth dear because it becomes a matter of life or death in all reality in your spirit and still it remains true that yet a few will reach the distinct, clear-cut, or definite knowledge of it. It is just like a student in a classroom. Whatever energy and time and hard work they will sow into their studies, that effort will be tested and the result will prove their knowledge and hard work in each of the subjects. The teacher isn't looking for excuses of why the student did not achieve the grade that he knew the student was capable of accomplishing. You see, laziness is called slothfulness in God's word. Backsliders in scriptures were no more than sluggers. They are lazy towards the energy they put into learning God's word and his ways. Proverbs 13 verse 4 declares The sluggard craves and gets nothing but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied The righteous hate what is false but the wicked bring shame and disgrace Righteousness guards the man of integrity but wickedness overthrows the sinner Dear believer This in itself ought to encourage you to pursue that narrow way with all of your heart This should never discourage any person from finding the narrow gate and making it their lifelong quest to walk on that narrow way. But right here in this last statement is some of the hints of a few of the reasons as to why so few come into the clear and revelatory knowledge of it, which also prepares the way to lay hold of it or lay claim on it. The first reason why so few find the narrow gate is because of ignorance of God's love, His ways, and His word. This ignorance is the love that God Almighty has in His heart for you personally. This undying love has nothing to do with what you or I have done, but this love of the Eternal Father and His precious Son, Jesus Christ, whom he has sent as Savior to yours and my poor wretched souls was to perfect the work of redemption in our souls which was needed above all things in order for us to inherit eternal life. Romans 5.8 says, But God shows and clearly proves his own love for us by the fact that while we were sinners, Christ the Messiah died for us. And John 3.16, God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. And 1 John 4.19, we love him because he first loved us. You see, most still seek some ground for that work that was already taken care of by God and his son's work on the cross and by the Holy Spirit who is freely given to all sincere and true seekers of the truth. Most people cannot help but try to do that work in themselves and for themselves, which leads them away from the suitable understanding that God's covenant favor is all sufficient. So because of this, they cannot come into the understanding and the knowledge of their participation in eternal life, let alone finding their way to the narrow gate. Titus 3 verse 4 declares, declares, but when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior to man as man appeared, he saved us, not because of any righteousness that we had done, but because of his own pity and mercy, and by the cleansing bath of the new birth, the regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, which he poured out so richly upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. And he did it in order that we might be justified by his grace and his favor, wholly undeserved, that we might be acknowledged and counted as conformed to the divine will in purpose and thought and action, that we might become heirs of eternal life according to our hope. You see, the masses of those who perish are ignorant of how the love of God virtually and for all practical purposes discovers itself or supernaturally makes itself known to the man or woman's heart who has laid the ground to receive it and lay claim to it. And this is done first by the understanding and shockingly discovering one's own appalling state of sin and the corruption that has filled our whole beings. You see, many and most never have had the ground laid in their hearts to fully understand that their hearts and souls and minds are wickedly evil and sinful in the eyes of God and the very one who created them and is calling them to come back to him so that he can truly show them his divine love. But so many millions of people sitting in church are too lukewarm and are guilty of holding on to the baggage of the world and its clamor and stuff and therefore the ground of their hearts has never been prepared for the understanding that they are guilty sinners on their way to hell. Apostle Paul in Philippians 3 verse 7 said, But whatever former things I had that might have been gained to me, I have come to consider as one combined loss for Christ's sake. Yes, furthermore, I count everything as lost compared to the possession of the priceless privilege, the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth and supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of the progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with him and perceiving and recognizing and understanding him more fully and clearly. For his sake, I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish. in order that I may win, I may gain Christ, the anointed one. You see, this discovery of Christ becomes the full and satisfying pearl of great price for you personally. Jesus becomes the discovered treasure. And you hold him dear because he is, after all, the door and the way into eternal life. And he does say in John 10, verse 9, I am the door. Anyone who enters in through me will be saved and will live. He will come in and he will go out freely and will find pasture. In Matthew 13.44 Jesus said, The kingdom of heaven is like something precious buried in the field, which a man found and hid again. Then in his joy he goes and he sells all that he has and he buys that field. And again, the kingdom of heaven is like a man who is a dealer in search of fine and precious pearls, who on finding a single pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it. Well, you see, another of the main reasons that most will not find the narrow gate that leads to the narrow path into eternal life is because they are not willing to part with the things of this earth life, just as our last scripture pointed out. Most are not willing to part with their earth life, with their precious treasures, with their precious baggage, with their causes in life. And this is that corruption of the soul that is not discovered and will prevent one from giving their all to the pursuit of knowing and cherishing the precious pearl of great price. The profession of these will remain empty. Their words will be vain and boastful words, only spoken in the air, only to fall to the ground, because there was nothing to substantiate or support the validity of them, which will be life unto themselves and possibly life to those around them. God does not want a part of your heart dear ones no he wants all of your heart a house divided cannot stand when a sinner is convinced that the promise of eternal life is for him he should examine the preciousness of that treasure who is Christ and he or she should count the cost of this purchase and the joy of finding his salvation and then hold on to it like your life depends on it. You know, it does. Your life really does depend on it. Few deeply realize this, and this is why so few find the narrow gate. Salvation through Jesus Christ is to be sought after as our only true treasure and you should value it above all the riches and the gadgets and the stuff that money could buy You should look for it in the scriptures until you come fully to understand its worth and excellence You should deeply ponder it in the depths of your soul and should be willing to part with all in order to lay hold of it. Your total joy should be found in it And you should always be convinced That no price is accepted for it But that which was spilled on the cross And cut covenant with you So that you may have your share and part in it You see, the gospel truth is more valuable Than any treasure on the earth That you may hold in high esteem Psalms 19 verse 8 tells us The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. And the commandment of the Lord is pure and bright, enlightening the eyes. More to be desired are they than gold, even more much than fine gold. They are sweeter also than honey, the honey drippings from the honeycomb. This beautiful truth is hidden from most. It is precious, and it comes with the price. most do not want to pay the cost or the price for this beautiful truth when a person sees it and hears it it is their responsibility to sacrifice all that hinders them from laying a hold of it they are to seek after it with all of their hearts they are to sacrifice whatever stands in their way they are to consider this precious truth more precious than gold and even life itself Jesus said in Luke 14, verse 33, So then any of you who does not forsake or renounce or surrender or give up, all that he has cannot be my disciple. And this is one of the reasons that so few find the narrow gate. This is the reason that the truth is hidden from most. They do not consider this truth precious. They do not seek after it with the earnestness that other people seek after gold. Too many today are seeking after those things that make them happy and bring them pleasure. These are only distractions, but this is why so many will not find the narrow gate. The truth lies buried and it must be searched out with diligence. And let me tell you, once you discover just one little gem of truth, you will find yourself hungry and digging for more of the heavenly treasures, which are definitely, as the word says, more precious than gold or silver. You see, it is Christ Jesus whom you are discovering, dear believer. You're discovering Jesus Christ as your fulfillment, as your full and satisfying treasure above all things. the scripture said the man finds a treasure for which with joy he sold all that he had and Jesus is this treasure Jesus is this narrow gate you will find true joy in him true joy begins here with the one who is called the door or the gate in John 10 verse 7 Jesus says again I assure you most solemnly I tell you that I myself am the door for the sheep. I am the door. Anyone who enters in through me will be saved and will live. Many are truly ignorant of this fact. They know it in their head, but they do not know it in their heart. And it is knowing it in your heart that matters and counts because this is where the life in the word is found. In Colossians 1 verse 5, the word declares, because of the hope of experiencing what is laid up, reserved and waiting for you in heaven, of this hope you heard in the past, that the messenger of the truth of the gospel, which has come to you, indeed the whole world, that gospel is bearing fruit and still is growing by its own inherent power, even as it has done among yourself ever since the day you first heard and came to know and understand the grace of God in truth. You came to know the grace or undeserved favor of God in reality deeply and clearly and thoroughly, becoming accurately and intimately acquainted with it. You see, it is by grace that you experience this hope. It is by grace that you understand the life of the truth of God's word, and you are saved, and you understand this deeply because you've entered through the narrow gate. This is not a head knowledge thing. You can memorize this verbatim, and you can recite every scripture that defines this subject. But let me ask you this point blank. What kind of fruit are you producing that qualifies this truth? Is Jesus playing second fiddle in your life? Are you consistent in your daily pursuit of him? Not like a rabbit zigzagging from one day or one week to another week. Are you obedient to his command, not just the one that you think is just enough to save you from going to hell? Understand, please, no self-righteousness can go through that narrow gate. People ignorantly think that because they go to church and even pay their tithes or give offerings and memorize many scriptures and do nice things for people, They believe themselves to be a nice or good person and a well-saved person at that. Many will not say this out loud, but it is the preponderances of their own heart. They are ignorant of the fact that this is a horrible boasting of their own heart and soul. This self-deception leads to eternal death unless it is recognized and bitterly repented of. Nobody who thinks in this way will enter through the narrow gate any more than the devil will. There are nice people, many nice people in hell. They did nice things for people while they lived on the earth, but they did not deem the Lord Jesus Christ worthy of their full attention or their notice of time. This kind of ignorance, again remember, is one of the major reasons in this message today, titled, Why So Few Find the Narrow Gate and Their Failure in Finding It. You see, if they do not find the narrow gate, who is Jesus Christ himself, it is again through no fault of the Father or the Son or the Word of God. It is personal choice. So far we see several major factors and reasons why so few find the narrow gate, and that is, one, they have great ignorance of God's love, his word, and his ways. Two, people do not understand and do not discover their own shocking and offensive state of sin. Three, they are not willing to part with their treasures on this earth in order to put Christ their Savior first. They are lukewarm, and really we could say these kinds are backsliders because of this preference in their lives. understanding God's chosen way for us as his people is his revealed will to us and this becomes a law for us this brings us to the fourth reason for few finding the narrow gate that leads to eternal life this law, God's word and way of life is acknowledged as good and holy and just and spiritual it is out of this new way of life according to God's precepts or His word, that man becomes a servant of righteousness and a true worshiper of God. This new way and understanding enables the new man or woman in Christ to worship God in spirit and truth, in the newness of the spirit, and not in the old stale way of the letter of the law, but in tenderness of heart and divine love that is ministered back to his creator. Ultimately, dear church, this is why you were created. And this is what God is looking for in you and in me. In John 4.23, Jesus said, A time will come, however, indeed, it is already here, when the true, genuine worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, in reality. for the Father is seeking just such people as these as his worshipers. God is a spirit, a spiritual being, and those who worship him must worship him in spirit, in truth. It is here where you can exercise your faith and learn how to keep a clear conscience, a good conscience that is void of offense towards God and towards your fellow man without personal understanding of God's love for you at first. The fact that he has sent his son to this earth to die a horrible death on the cross in order to save you personally from your sins was to be your first discovery of his great love for you. Oh yes, again, you can have head knowledge of this fact. But has it really penetrated your heart? Has it really broken your heart? When this fact truly enters into your heart, it breaks your heart, dear one. the door of entrance is opened up unto you and you have begun your journey of seeking after the one whom your heart now loves your love is passionate and full of zeal and desire to know the one who thought of you before you were even conceived in your mother's womb and your love for him becomes real and genuine and is only fueled by growing in the knowledge and the truth of his ways you have elected in your heart just like Daniel did in his day never to defile himself with the unclean things or like Joseph who maintained his integrity and purity with his God when he said to Potiphar's wife how can I do this great evil and sin against my God so this law God's word and way of life is acknowledged as good and holy and just and spiritual. And as I had just said, it is out of this new way of life, according to God's preceptor's word, that man becomes a servant of righteousness and a true worshiper unto his God. And the only place where he can worship God effectively in the way he demands is in spirit and truth because God is spirit. And it is only here where you will never want to offend God through any kind of sinful practice or compromise or pretense with your contrived innocence or blame game tactics. By remaining ignorant to this fact and way, then many, many multitudes of millions sitting in the pews of churches every week are hindered on their part or in their share of eternal life. Because again, if one does not grow to know how God works in their lives, to bring them to this point of being a servant of righteousness and a true worshiper who worships God in spirit and truth. They will never lay hold of his love, which was from eternity. But instead, these people will wander in the darkness and will never come to the knowledge and the portion of their share in him or his kingdom because they will continue to offend him and his people in their sin because they failed to know his love and come to him in the way that he demands. Now the last major reason, the fifth one that we will cover today is dealing deceitfully with God and your own consciences. Jeremiah 17 verse 9 declares, The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Who could know it? So unless you see the wonderful working power of the Holy Spirit at work in your darkened heart, bringing true restoration, you will never see the light of the knowledge of the truth and discern or care to know how desperately wicked and sinful your heart really is. But rather you will deal deceitfully and shrewdly and cleverly with God and those around you. People like this will justify their sin because their heart in time does not convict or condemn them from keeping some known and cherished sin in their hearts which they refuse to let go of. These who deal deceitfully with God and others become experts at deceiving their own consciences as well. They become experts at believing God doesn't mind or God doesn't see or care or they deceitfully shift the blame to others as to why they do what they do. Well, they will even use the scripture in 1 John 3.21 that says, And beloved, if our consciences, our hearts, do not accuse us, if they do not make us feel guilty and condemn us, we have confidence, complete assurance, and boldness before God. They say, My heart doesn't condemn me, and therefore I have confidence in God, and he sees me just fine the way that I am. So because this individual's heart is not self-condemning him, he deceptively sees himself okay with God even in his sin. And what he doesn't know is that he has a hardened heart and he or she is on their way to hell unless they have a rude awakening and repent of treating God and his love and his word and his ways with such disdain and hatred. God has provided everything that we need to be set free. Apostle Paul said in Romans 7.23, But I discern in my bodily members, in the sensitive appetites, in the wills of the flesh, a different law, a rule, an action, a war against the law of my mind, my reason, and making me a prisoner to the law of sin that dwells in my bodily organs, in the sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh. oh unhappy and pitiful and wretched man that I am who will release me who will deliver me from the shackles of this body of death oh thank God he will through Jesus Christ the anointed one our Lord so then indeed I of myself with the mind and heart serve the law of God but with the flesh the law of sin you see dear ones only Jesus Christ can save a deceptive heart Self-confidence and self-righteousness and pride mar and hinders all access in approaching God because of preferences to worship other gods, the gods of their sensual appetites, the gods of their pleasures, and the gods of their idols. Idolatry will draw away the heart first thing in the morning and the last thing at night. For those who deal deceitfully with God and others around them, Their consciences never convict them that they are neglectful to God's law being holy and righteous and just and able to enliven and empower them to rise above the darkness of this horrible sinful place and practices in their lives. Their hearts do not remember God because their heart is a heart after some or many other detestable things. God's word says in Deuteronomy 30 verse 19 I call heaven and earth to witness this day against you that I have set before you life and death the blessing and the curses therefore choose life that you and your descendants may live and may love the Lord your God obey his voice and cling to him for he is your life and the length of your days that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to give your fathers to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And Jeremiah 21 verse 8, And to this people you, Jeremiah, shall say, Thus says the Lord, Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death. Now today we have covered five major reasons why so few find the narrow gate who is Jesus Christ himself. I did say failure to find Jesus Christ who is the door and the gate whereby we enter into eternal life is not the fault of God nor his son nor the failure of the word to do what it is purposed to do nor any other person's fault on earth but rather the failure lies in the heart and the bosom of the hearer and the doer of God's word now if we consider God's way and elect to walk in his ways, then we will concede that it is a rare privilege as a believer to honor God and follow him and worship him in the way that he purposes in our salvation walk. The real stability of your salvation is to be found only in this way. 1 John 5.10 says, He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself. He who does not believe God has made him to be a liar because he has not believed the testimony that God has given him of his Son. And this is the testimony that God has given us eternal life. And this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life. He who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. Now, this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whenever we ask, we know that we have

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