Enter The Narrow Way

Contend to enter through the narrow door, for many I tell you look to enter and are not able.*

It is an amazing concept, contend to enter the narrow way. This word for enter means to enter by force, to enter into or take possession of. The word contend here speaks of being a combatant in the public games; to contend, fight, strive earnestly. This contending is how Jacob wrestled with God and men to the extent he was fighting for the salvation of his soul, thus he was blessed. Such speaks also of the increasing of faith as a taking hold of God's word. Often this verse refers to the lost, but when we look in context, Jesus is speaking to the children of Israel in covenant with God, thus he was speaking to God's people at the time. I too at the present time apply this verse to God's children, "contend to enter through the narrow door..."

enter through the narrow gate, for wide the gate and easy the way that leads to ruin and many exist that enter through it. How narrow the gate and difficult the way that leads to Life and few exist that find it."*

I have come to know there exists a wide way in the church today, so do not allow men to deter you from entering the narrow gate. Jacob also contended with man. This concept of taking possession, taking hold of, we see in the scriptures. "But no one can enter the house of the strong to plunder his possessions unless he first tie up the strong, and then he plunders his house."* We see how the enemy enters, and we see why we are to contend to enter the narrow gate. The devil captivates by entering in deceptively then he turns this foot hold into a strong hold. If you do not take captive the enemy, these thoughts, and beat up this enemy kicking him out, then you will be taken captive. And of course a carnal mind has no power to do so.

enter through the narrow gate... How narrow the gate and difficult the way that leads to Life and few exist that find it."*

This word for enter also means to begin to exist, come into existence, thus we see the narrow door or gate is related to us coming into existence and becoming like Christ. This is our reasonable service the purpose of our living sacrifice. The fruit we get in Christ leads us into sanctification, consecration, which leads to Life, thus the narrow way is entering this reasonable service. Few are there who find the way, but God always has a remnant. To enter is to come into existence, a new creation, and it is working out salvation, or growing up into salvation. It is entering into a reasonable service which is to be consecrated, holy, sanctified in truth. So we see why we are to contend, why we are to enter in with force, because the enemy does all that he can to prevent this from happening.

In that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not speak an inspired message, not prophesying in your name and in your name, force away demons and in your name do many mighty works?*

It is a sad thing, that many who call Jesus Lord are deceived. The power that they have associated with their own salvation, exists in the name of Jesus, and they claim they possess it. Why did they think this? "How narrow the gate and difficult the way that leads to Life and few exist that find it. Beware of false prophets, they come to you in sheep clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves"* Many will not enter the narrow gate because of false prophets, who look like sheep. Why do these pretend to be prophets? the word ravenous means swindlers, robbers and truly they exist of the devil causing little children to stumble but they do it for personal gain, to swindle and rob money from little children.

These exist the ones on the way, where the word is sown and whenever they hear, Satan comes and takes away the word, that sown to the extent of them.*

These exist the ones on the way... On the way? are these like the disciples who followed Jesus, but then turned away because of hard teaching? Some followed Jesus because their bellies had been filled with earthly food, and many today follow Jesus for earthly reasons, few exist who find the narrow way that leads to Life. The enemy steals the sown word so it will not die and bear fruit in them then he attempts to choked out the ones growing, distracting them in things that do not strengthen or grow up the child, things that sound holy, like living to the letter of the law or doing many mighty works in his name. Think about this, they even cast out demons. But these are deceived having entered the wide gate, so what is the distinction? I believe it comes down to our reasonable service, those on the narrow way will grow up, thus those on the wide path will not, these become ruined. 

Which man among you has one hundred sheep and losing one will not go after the one lost until he finds him? And when he is found placing on his shoulders rejoicing?...  I tell you in the same way exists joy in heaven to the extent of one who deviates from the path, turning back, than over ninety-nine righteous who have no need of repenting.*

The one lost is of the one hundred, as there are 99 and 1 is lost which implies the 1 is of the 100 sheep, he is not a sinner in respect of not being a sheep or a child of God. In regards to him sinning, he has turned away from the narrow way. This verse usually is interpreted in an evangelistic way, justifying to some that the primary service of the church is to go and spread the gospel, to the extent of finding the one who is lost. But in context we see a different meaning, referring to the narrow way, the one who was on the narrow way has now turned aside, he is in sin. In Matthew we see more evidence of this, in context of the one lost sheep, he is my brother. 

if your brother sins, go and point out his fault between you and him alone, and if he listens to you, you have gained back your brother.*

We read the lost sheep is gained back, a brother who changes his mind, repenting, turning back to the narrow way. There is more joy in heaven over one sinner that turns back to the narrow way. To turn back implies that he was on the narrow way to begin with, and as Paul writes repentance is of the will of God, a godly sorrow without regret.* Jesus said, "I am the Gate, to the extent that anyone enters through me, he will be saved also coming into existence and going out and finding pasture."* Jesus is the way, truth, and the Life thus we must enter through him. Jesus is also the author of salvation and of faith. We see in this verse the concept of abiding in Jesus, it is entering and it is going out, it is connecting to the truth and as Jesus said the true disciple abides in truth, thus he remains in truth. We also see the one lost, a brother not walking in truth.

Or a woman having ten silver coins to the extent loosing one coin, would not light a lamp, also sweep the house and search for it diligently...*

What is of more value? that I go and try to find some coin that might exist or that I find a coin that has been lost? bringing back the lost sheep that exists is more valuable. Of course if we believe in predestination, all the sheep have been chosen by God. "Or what of a father who has two sons..." and one leaves and squanders his inheritance. These parables all imply that the one lost was of the fold, a sheep, who has become lost, wondered from the narrow way. And the one lost, the prodigal son, he "coming to himself" returned to the Father, to the narrow way. This word coming has the same root word as enter, as in "contend to enter through the narrow door, for many I tell you look to enter and are not able.* It is not truth of scriptures that those of the fold are to be sacrificed, which is to allow the ravenous wolf to devour the brother who is lost and has turned from the way. These are the ones the scriptures speak about and it is these that are more valuable, and there is more rejoicing in heaven over one who turns back to the narrow way.

and the King will answer them, I tell you the truth, to the extent of what you did to the least of these my brethren, you did to me, then he will say to those on the left, depart from me you cursed ones into eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels, for when I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink...*

Notice, the least of these refers to His brethren, those existing of the fold, a sheep not a goat. What you do tot he least of these his brethren you do to them. To a church that thinks it can sacrifice the brethren for some sheep that might exist is deceived. The least of these his brethren are more valued, and more precious, more so than silver and gold. Jesus warns those in authority that it would be better to be cast into the sea than to cause a little one of these to stumble. I see the principle that the church is only as strong as the least of these, and it is the purpose of the church to build them up into maturity. How does one compare meeting the physical need in respect to meeting the spiritual need? Truly, the spiritual is much more valuable, thus the least that exist who are spiritual, God's children, are of more value. John and James writes that true faith is known by deeds of agape love toward our brother. If I love as Christ does I would not turn from a brother in physical need. But many follow Jesus for the wrong reasons, of more value is the one entering and walking the narrow path.

So whatever you would like others to do to you, do also to them, for this exists the law and prophecy. Enter through the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and easy the way that leads to destruction and many exist that enter through it.*

Jesus said, that the world would know we are his disciples by our love for one another, not by how we reach out to a lost world. Agape love and how we care for one another is the narrow way. In this unity and fellowship we have with God and one another the lost sheep will see and enter into the narrow way. The principle exists that caring must begin inward first, we are not fit to minister outwardly if we do not care for those inward, beginning with your own family, then the house of God, the sheep of the fold. Those who enter the narrow way do not follow Jesus for earthly food but for food that endures unto everlasting life. Seeking truth is not an excuse to ignore my brother in need, but there exist those who follow Jesus for the wrong reasons. How do I distinguish the two? discipleship? if my brother is not walking the narrow with me, walking in truth, then how would I know he follows Jesus for personal gain? So I define the least of these my brothers as those who want to enter the narrow way, walking in truth, I would give my life for these, and this is agape love.

Brothers, if someone is taken by surprise in some stumbling, you the spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, taking care not you yourself being tempted. bear one another's burden and so fulfill the law of Christ.*

The spiritual are the ninety nine not in need of repentance, the one lost is my brother who has stumbled, taken by surprise of the enemy. Think about this, it is the law of Christ to lift his burden, to restore him to the fold. The least, the lost, is my brother and the law of Christ says that the ninety nine spiritual should restore him to the fold. We have seen a shift in the priorities of the American Church, where evangelism, giving, reaching out to the community has become of more value than building up and even restoring my lost brother. When we read of the parable of the lost sheep, in context, it refers to the child of God, the one lost of the ninety nine, which implies he was one of the one hundred. The lost is the brother who I am trying to save, who is living in sin, thus in the same context of the above scriptures we read how we are to approach such, go to him in private, mediate with trusting brothers, bring it before the Church.* When we really look at these scriptures they are pertaining to our reasonable service, to be consecrated, holy, set apart to God and without agape love for one another, the Church will not grow up.

For we exist his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God has prepared beforehand, so that we walk the same.*

God doesn't prepare good works beforehand for us to walk in, no, he prepares us beforehand, a masterpiece, a creation that comes into existence by his power. He is the potter and we are the clay, does the clay say to the potter, lets do it the other way around, let me do good works and I will be your vessel?* No, first we enter into a reasonable service, presenting our bodies a living sacrifice, to be consecrated to God, to be a vessel for his use. And this is why we "contend to enter through the narrow door," so that we become, come into existence His workmanship or that we are consecrated, set apart, for service. This way is narrow and hard, only a few will find it, thus we see the straight path is faith energized in agape love. Anything not done in agape love is nothing. "And the commandment having from him is this; the one agape loving God also agape loves the one his brothers."* It is the law of Christ and his commandment, that we love and restore the one lost. Contend to come into existence through the narrow way, there is more rejoicing in heaven over such.

Masterpiece