8-21-2016 Weekly Message

This week’s meditation: Psalms 49: 2-20

Scripture: Jeremiah 6: 16-19

Subject Old paths, the good way, and the strait(narrow) gate

              God said of the reason why he brought evil upon the Jews, because they failed to stand in the old paths, where is the good way. They were supposed to ask their God what is the good way so that they might walk in it. But they rejected against the word of God saying, “We will not walk therein

        They were able to find rest for their souls when they walked in the good way shown by God. But they chose their own way to satisfy their lust of the flesh. God set watchmen over them in his long suffering, and said unto them,, ” Hearken to the sound of the trumpet” But they still rejected the word of God saying, ” We will not hearken.”

              God spoke unto not only the people of Israel, but also unto all nations of people:

“Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them.”

God  spoke unto the peoples of the whole world clearly about bringing disaster to the people of Israel so that they might be able to hear to know his word::

“Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it. “

                Eventually they were destroyed by God  abandoned by God, even though God had waited in long suffering, but   kings and priests and people all together forsake the word of God. Through the human history, God let all nations of people on the earth know the wrath that they received from God to give them the same warning message.

           God spoke through the prophet Jeremiah for their iniquity:

“For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.” (Jeremiah 2:13)

        The prophet Jeremiah once said, and cried:

” For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.” (Jer. 17:13)

          Solomon, the son of David testified of the old way where is goodness in details unto his sons, after he received the wisdom of God:

” For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.“(Proverbs 2: 6-9)

         That’s right! The old way, the way of goodness  is in the words of all the truth that is the Word of God. When we understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity in the word of the truth, we are to be obedient  to the word of God denying ourselves. 

            God spoke unto the people of Israel through the prophet Jeremiah long time ago; he appeared to the earth in the name of Jesus, and spoke of two kinds of way. He spoke of the old paths where is good way once again:

”  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.“ (Matthew 7 : 13-14

                When Jesus taught the Jews on the way to Jerusalem, someone asked him a question saying, “Lord, are there few that be saved?’ Then Jesus said once again of the relationship between  the narrow gate and salvation

“Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.  When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.  But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.  And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.“(Luke 13: 24-30).

               We have to understand what we have to strive to do through the word of Jesus saying, “ Strive to enter in at the strait gate.” Jesus said unto his disciples once again about it specifically:

” If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?  For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.“(Matthew 16:24-27)

               Apostle Peter testified of the salvation of our souls when we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ(1Pet. 1:9). Whosoever understand this truth of salvation is pleased to deny himself, and take up his own cross to follow the Lord Jesus. Taking up our own cross means to take pleasure in all kinds of infirmities, reproaches, necessities, persecutions and distresses for Christ’s sake. When we rejoice over all kinds of sufferings for Christ, our soul shall be strengthened in spite of our flesh weakened as testified by Apostle Paul(2Cor. 12:10)

         That’s right! When our soul be strengthened, we are able to follow the old paths, the good way  according to all kinds of righteousness, and judgment, and equity. And finally, we are able to take all kinds of sufferings for Christ’s sake with pleasure. The Lord Jesus spoke  unto Apostle Paul in the midst of the  thorn in his flesh of this mystery:: “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2Cor. 12:9)

            Upon hearing from the Lord, he testified very clearly:

“Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”(2Cor. 12:10)

Amen! Hallelujah!