Praise God. My name is Rowland Nwosu. 00:00:29.32\00:00:32.75 Pastor of the South Lake City 00:00:32.76\00:00:34.20 Central Seventh Adventist Church 00:00:34.21\00:00:35.95 in South Lake City, Utah. 00:00:35.96\00:00:39.84 In the life of a Christian, there comes a time 00:00:39.94\00:00:44.15 when it becomes so painful and unbearable. 00:00:44.16\00:00:49.69 Today's message, keep on, keeping on, 00:00:49.70\00:00:53.46 is a message that I want to pray 00:00:53.47\00:00:56.53 that God will bring comfort and strength 00:00:56.54\00:00:59.61 to all the listeners today. 00:00:59.62\00:01:01.46 Let us pray. 00:01:01.47\00:01:03.27 Father, open our eyes, minds and ears 00:01:03.28\00:01:08.51 that we may experience wonderful blessings 00:01:08.52\00:01:10.80 out of Your word today. 00:01:10.81\00:01:13.13 May this message bring comfort, 00:01:13.14\00:01:15.96 strength and courage 00:01:15.97\00:01:18.21 to all who are listening today and we ask that you continue 00:01:18.22\00:01:22.04 to bless The Ministry of the 3ABN, 00:01:22.05\00:01:25.21 as it blesses men and women everywhere around world. Amen. 00:01:25.22\00:01:31.02 I'd like to share with you 00:01:33.55\00:01:37.06 from the Book of Psalm, Chapter 121, Psalm 121. 00:01:37.07\00:01:44.28 And we will read that chapter together. 00:01:44.29\00:01:50.10 "I will lift up my eyes to the hills-- 00:01:50.11\00:01:53.29 From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, 00:01:53.30\00:01:57.58 who made heaven and the earth. 00:01:57.59\00:02:00.22 He will not allow your foot to be moved. 00:02:00.23\00:02:03.54 He who keeps you will not slumber. 00:02:03.55\00:02:06.28 Behold, He who keeps Israel 00:02:06.29\00:02:08.25 shall neither slumber nor sleep. 00:02:08.26\00:02:11.61 The Lord is your shade at your right hand. 00:02:11.62\00:02:17.56 The sun shall not strike you by day, 00:02:17.57\00:02:20.17 nor the moon by night. 00:02:20.18\00:02:22.99 The Lord shall preserve you from all evil, 00:02:23.00\00:02:26.56 He shall preserve your soul. 00:02:26.57\00:02:28.47 The Lord shall preserve your going out 00:02:28.48\00:02:30.63 and your coming in from this time forth, 00:02:30.64\00:02:34.12 and even forevermore." 00:02:34.13\00:02:36.89 This Psalm was a pilgrimage song, 00:02:38.69\00:02:42.41 which express the sentiment of the Jewish worshipers 00:02:42.42\00:02:45.45 as a travel to Jerusalem on their yearly pilgrimage. 00:02:45.46\00:02:50.05 As they walked toward the gate of the city, 00:02:50.06\00:02:52.53 they would be ascending. 00:02:52.54\00:02:54.78 The road leading to the gate of the city was rugged, 00:02:54.79\00:02:59.03 it was steep, narrow, rocky and winding 00:02:59.04\00:03:02.86 and unless the travelers were careful in some places, 00:03:02.87\00:03:06.83 they could slip and fall into the ditch, 00:03:06.84\00:03:09.80 down into the valley below. 00:03:09.81\00:03:12.67 Yes, the road leading to the city was dangerous. 00:03:12.68\00:03:17.44 It was dangerous because it was infested 00:03:17.45\00:03:19.30 with robbers and exploiters, kidnappers and attackers 00:03:19.31\00:03:23.64 and wild animals and ferocious beasts. 00:03:23.65\00:03:27.72 And anyone of these could have attacked the worshipers 00:03:27.73\00:03:31.16 as they traveled, you could even be 00:03:31.17\00:03:34.02 lost traveling to the city for worship. 00:03:34.03\00:03:39.22 As a result of many hazards on the road to the city 00:03:39.23\00:03:42.89 for--then the, the, the, the groups, 00:03:42.90\00:03:46.81 then the worshipers traveled in groups. 00:03:46.82\00:03:50.42 One of the songs they sang was Psalm 121 that we read. 00:03:50.43\00:03:56.11 Although the journey was painful, difficult, and hard, 00:03:56.12\00:04:01.88 the Bible tells us that they were glad to come 00:04:01.89\00:04:05.43 and in the next chapter of Psalms, 00:04:05.44\00:04:09.66 it talks about the fact that 00:04:09.67\00:04:11.77 the worshipers expressed their sentiment, 00:04:11.78\00:04:13.86 "I was glad when they said unto me, 00:04:13.87\00:04:16.83 let us go into the house of the Lord." 00:04:16.84\00:04:19.98 You see many of these worshipers 00:04:19.99\00:04:22.27 had the right attitude of worship. 00:04:22.28\00:04:24.53 Regardless of what occurred to them 00:04:24.54\00:04:27.81 or what happened to them on their way to the city, 00:04:27.82\00:04:31.12 to worship God, they still went to worship God. 00:04:31.13\00:04:34.92 They had a right attitude of worship. 00:04:34.93\00:04:39.11 Yes, the road leading to the city was stony and rugged, 00:04:39.12\00:04:42.91 but they enjoyed worshiping God. 00:04:42.92\00:04:47.89 They enjoyed going to the house of worship 00:04:47.90\00:04:52.22 to glorify the God. 00:04:52.23\00:04:54.12 You see, this road provided Jesus 00:04:54.13\00:04:58.68 with the illustration of the Christian journey 00:04:58.69\00:05:02.74 and in Matthew's Chapter 7, verses 13 and 14, Jesus said. 00:05:02.75\00:05:09.43 "Enter by the narrow gate, for wide is the gate 00:05:09.44\00:05:13.41 and broad is the way that leads to destruction, 00:05:13.42\00:05:17.06 and there are many who go in by it. 00:05:17.07\00:05:20.76 Because narrow is the gate 00:05:20.77\00:05:22.47 and difficult is the way which leads to the life, 00:05:22.48\00:05:25.63 and there are few who find it." 00:05:25.64\00:05:29.49 I like to share five points to remember, 00:05:29.50\00:05:33.69 if we must travel along this narrow road 00:05:33.70\00:05:37.57 through the narrow gate into the heavenly city. 00:05:37.58\00:05:41.48 First point is this, that we must recognize 00:05:41.49\00:05:45.49 that the road that leads to the holy city 00:05:45.50\00:05:49.97 is a worrisome road. 00:05:49.98\00:05:52.06 It can be worrisome 00:05:52.07\00:05:53.11 because the small gate and a narrow gate 00:05:53.12\00:05:57.46 are restrictive and demand a more disciplined life. 00:05:57.47\00:06:02.10 It can be worrisome because it is the way of training 00:06:02.11\00:06:06.19 and the way of discipleship. 00:06:06.20\00:06:08.23 It is worrisome because it is the way of persecution. 00:06:08.24\00:06:11.80 It is the way of trials and opposition. 00:06:11.81\00:06:14.83 It is the way of perfection. 00:06:14.84\00:06:16.63 It is the way of crown and glory. 00:06:16.64\00:06:18.99 Yes, the road leading to the heavenly city 00:06:19.00\00:06:22.86 can be worrisome. 00:06:22.87\00:06:24.24 Friends, in our religious journeys today, we face, 00:06:24.25\00:06:27.30 we face situations where circumstances 00:06:27.31\00:06:31.71 challenge our spiritual walk with the Lord. 00:06:31.72\00:06:35.23 The devil and his workers are at work at school, 00:06:35.24\00:06:38.59 they are at work, at work, at our work places, 00:06:38.60\00:06:41.52 they are at work even in the church, 00:06:41.53\00:06:45.74 but distractions, attractions, and detractions 00:06:45.75\00:06:50.52 that are intended to concentrate 00:06:50.53\00:06:54.43 on the non-essentials of this life 00:06:54.44\00:06:57.93 at the expense of our spiritual life, 00:06:57.94\00:07:00.04 that the devil seeks to push us away 00:07:00.05\00:07:03.36 from that narrow road. 00:07:03.37\00:07:04.73 There are trials and difficulties intended 00:07:04.74\00:07:07.17 to push us away from the road 00:07:07.18\00:07:09.25 that Jesus wants us to walk in. 00:07:09.26\00:07:14.31 There are struggles and problems 00:07:14.32\00:07:16.21 which the devil places on our way just to cause us 00:07:16.22\00:07:20.43 to fall and miss the mark of our savior's expectation. 00:07:20.44\00:07:26.27 It is no wonder why the Bible speaks about 00:07:26.28\00:07:30.66 the need for us to be cautious 00:07:30.67\00:07:33.06 and to be careful and vigilant because our enemy, 00:07:33.07\00:07:36.96 the devil prowls around like a, like a roaring lion 00:07:36.97\00:07:40.51 looking for someone to devour, but the Bible encourages us, 00:07:40.52\00:07:46.46 consults us to resist him, standing firm in the faith 00:07:46.47\00:07:50.68 because you know that your brothers 00:07:50.69\00:07:53.01 around the world are undergoing 00:07:53.02\00:07:54.96 the same kind of sufferings. 00:07:54.97\00:07:57.00 Yes, the journey can be worrisome 00:07:57.01\00:07:59.08 yet it is easy if we know the direct path. 00:07:59.09\00:08:03.08 If we know the way leading to that heavenly city 00:08:03.09\00:08:07.19 and Jesus said, "I am the way, I am the truth, 00:08:07.20\00:08:11.18 I am the life and no one comes to the Father, but by Me. 00:08:11.19\00:08:15.58 Jesus said I am the way" 00:08:15.59\00:08:19.09 for all who accept Jesus Christ 00:08:19.10\00:08:21.05 as the personal savior this road, 00:08:21.06\00:08:22.28 this difficult road becomes easy. 00:08:22.29\00:08:26.50 It becomes easy not because they have no sin, 00:08:26.51\00:08:30.65 not because they know no pain and no sufferings, 00:08:30.66\00:08:33.45 not because they no longer 00:08:33.46\00:08:34.64 have problems and difficulties, 00:08:34.65\00:08:36.12 but it is because of whom they know. 00:08:36.13\00:08:38.14 It is because of who lives in their heart. 00:08:38.15\00:08:40.35 It is because of where they know 00:08:40.36\00:08:42.30 that the source of their strength comes from. 00:08:42.31\00:08:44.74 It is because they know Jesus and it's because 00:08:44.75\00:08:47.29 they had the assurance that Jesus himself 00:08:47.30\00:08:50.21 He is the one who will lead them 00:08:50.22\00:08:51.85 and give them the strength 00:08:51.86\00:08:54.19 to bear the struggles that occur in this, 00:08:54.20\00:09:00.34 along this road. 00:09:00.35\00:09:02.36 I have a second point that I want to share with you 00:09:02.37\00:09:06.85 and that is if we must enter through the City Gate 00:09:06.86\00:09:12.17 and walk that narrow way into the heavenly city, 00:09:12.18\00:09:16.41 we must constantly ascend like the Jewish worshipers 00:09:16.42\00:09:20.33 were ascending the mountain, the holy mountain of God. 00:09:20.34\00:09:24.52 You see we must continue to grow in grace, 00:09:24.53\00:09:27.68 growing from grace to grace and all who must pass through 00:09:27.69\00:09:32.44 this gate must have sinned. 00:09:32.45\00:09:34.75 We must climb over our difficulties, 00:09:34.76\00:09:37.64 we must overcome the problems 00:09:37.65\00:09:39.63 and trials along the path of our journey. 00:09:39.64\00:09:43.99 You see, all through the Christian history, 00:09:44.00\00:09:48.73 all who follow Jesus Christ have suffered various trials, 00:09:48.74\00:09:52.82 struggles and persecutions 00:09:52.83\00:09:55.70 while they earnestly committed to the work of God. 00:09:55.71\00:09:59.82 These challenges can be for our good. 00:10:01.37\00:10:04.60 The pastor James speak about, 00:10:04.61\00:10:06.53 speaks about this in James Chapter 1, verses 2 through 4. 00:10:06.54\00:10:12.08 "My brethren, count it all joy 00:10:15.79\00:10:18.26 when you fall into various trials, 00:10:18.27\00:10:20.80 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 00:10:20.81\00:10:24.86 But let patience have its perfect work, 00:10:24.87\00:10:28.34 that you may be perfect 00:10:28.35\00:10:29.96 and complete, lacking nothing." 00:10:29.97\00:10:34.29 Some of you might be going through 00:10:34.30\00:10:35.97 different experiences right now. 00:10:35.98\00:10:39.35 But the Lord watches over you. 00:10:39.36\00:10:41.68 The Lord is your shade at your right hand. 00:10:41.69\00:10:43.71 The sun will not smite you by day, 00:10:43.72\00:10:46.61 nor the moon by night. 00:10:46.62\00:10:48.32 For he who dwells in the shelter of the Most High 00:10:48.33\00:10:51.49 will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 00:10:51.50\00:10:55.11 But what, we would ask, 00:10:55.12\00:10:58.41 shall separate us from the love of God. 00:10:58.42\00:11:01.23 What is it that will separate us 00:11:01.24\00:11:02.86 from the love of Jesus Christ? 00:11:02.87\00:11:04.36 Is it tribulation the Bible asks? 00:11:04.37\00:11:08.76 If God is for us, who can be against us? 00:11:08.77\00:11:13.06 Even the one Father we have, who spared not his child, 00:11:13.07\00:11:18.24 his son but let him come for us, to save us, 00:11:18.25\00:11:24.51 give him up for us. 00:11:24.52\00:11:26.11 How will he not also allows him 00:11:26.12\00:11:28.36 to graciously give us all things that we seek 00:11:28.37\00:11:32.02 and ask of Him. 00:11:32.03\00:11:34.55 Who will bring charges, the Bible ask against 00:11:34.56\00:11:36.71 those whom God have chosen? 00:11:36.72\00:11:38.30 Is it not God himself who justifies? 00:11:38.31\00:11:42.07 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? 00:11:42.08\00:11:46.38 Shall trouble, shall hardship, shall persecution, 00:11:46.39\00:11:49.53 famine or nakedness, what is it? Bills. 00:11:49.54\00:11:52.26 In Romans, Chapter 8:37-39. 00:11:55.48\00:11:59.35 We are told that "Yet in all these things 00:12:01.86\00:12:06.40 we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 00:12:06.41\00:12:10.54 For I am persuaded polarized that neither death nor life, 00:12:10.55\00:12:15.08 nor angels nor principalities, nor powers, 00:12:15.09\00:12:17.94 nor things present nor things to come, 00:12:17.95\00:12:20.64 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing 00:12:20.65\00:12:25.29 shall be able to separate us from the love of God, 00:12:25.30\00:12:29.28 which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." 00:12:29.29\00:12:32.43 During a Monday night football game 00:12:36.63\00:12:40.14 between the Chicago Bears and New York Giants, 00:12:40.15\00:12:43.06 one of the announcers observed that Walter Payton, 00:12:43.07\00:12:49.71 the Bears' running back had accumulated 00:12:49.72\00:12:53.99 nine miles in career yardage. 00:12:54.00\00:12:57.30 Then the announcer remarked, 00:12:57.31\00:12:59.26 "Yeah, that's true but he did it with someone 00:12:59.27\00:13:04.91 knocking him down every 4.6 yards." 00:13:04.92\00:13:08.27 You see Walter Payton, 00:13:08.28\00:13:10.43 the most successful running back 00:13:10.44\00:13:12.71 at that time knew himself that, 00:13:12.72\00:13:16.18 if you would be successful to accomplish 00:13:16.19\00:13:19.17 something high, you sometimes need to be get, 00:13:19.18\00:13:23.08 you need to be knocked down, 00:13:23.09\00:13:24.44 you get knocked down sometimes. 00:13:24.45\00:13:26.63 But the key to success is to get up 00:13:26.64\00:13:31.54 and run again just as hard. 00:13:31.55\00:13:35.35 You see the Christian journey 00:13:35.36\00:13:37.44 is like the football career of Walter Payton. 00:13:37.45\00:13:41.49 A little fall here and a little fall there, 00:13:41.50\00:13:43.99 but there must be moment, there must be growth, 00:13:44.00\00:13:46.31 there must be ascending, growing from grace to grace. 00:13:46.32\00:13:50.68 Recognize in that "he who has promised us," 00:13:50.69\00:13:53.27 Jesus Christ our Savior has promised 00:13:53.28\00:13:56.75 "To him who overcomes the trials of this life, 00:13:56.76\00:14:00.30 the trials of this race, 00:14:00.31\00:14:02.60 the trials of this Christian walk, 00:14:02.61\00:14:05.28 he who overcomes." Jesus promises, 00:14:05.29\00:14:07.42 "I will give to eat a tree of life, 00:14:07.43\00:14:10.33 which is in the midst of the Paradise of God, 00:14:10.34\00:14:12.50 to him who overcomes he shall not be hurt 00:14:12.51\00:14:15.40 by the second death, to him who overcomes." 00:14:15.41\00:14:18.01 Jesus promises, "I will give him some of the hidden manna 00:14:18.02\00:14:21.58 to eat and I will give him even some white stone, 00:14:21.59\00:14:24.90 and on that stone a new name written 00:14:24.91\00:14:28.42 which no one else knows except him who received it." 00:14:28.43\00:14:32.18 Yes Jesus says, "To him who overcomes 00:14:32.19\00:14:34.33 the trials of this life and keep my works to the end, 00:14:34.34\00:14:37.77 to him I will give the power over nations." 00:14:37.78\00:14:42.64 Yes to him who overcomes, Jesus says, 00:14:42.65\00:14:45.00 "The sun shall be clothed in white raiment, 00:14:45.01\00:14:48.35 I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life, 00:14:48.36\00:14:51.69 but I will confess his name 00:14:51.70\00:14:54.52 to my Father and to his holy Angels." 00:14:54.53\00:14:57.13 To him who overcomes, the promise is, 00:14:57.14\00:15:00.19 "he or she shall inherit all things 00:15:00.20\00:15:05.04 and I will be his God and he my son." 00:15:05.05\00:15:10.94 There's only one way to overcome 00:15:10.95\00:15:13.86 is only through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. 00:15:13.87\00:15:17.33 The one who came from heaven and died? 00:15:17.34\00:15:19.94 The one who resurrected and lives for evermore 00:15:19.95\00:15:22.54 and is on the right hands, 00:15:22.55\00:15:23.98 and the right hand shown of god 00:15:23.99\00:15:26.00 in his holy sanctuary pleading for you 00:15:26.01\00:15:29.15 and pleading for me, it is through him 00:15:29.16\00:15:32.16 we can overcome our circumstances 00:15:32.17\00:15:34.49 and our trials right now. 00:15:34.50\00:15:37.70 Oh, how much, I love this song. 00:15:37.71\00:15:40.25 "A mighty fortress is our God, 00:15:40.26\00:15:43.66 a bulwark never failing our helper, 00:15:43.67\00:15:47.62 amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing. 00:15:47.63\00:15:50.82 Did we in our own strength confide our battle would be, 00:15:50.83\00:15:54.82 striving would be losing, 00:15:54.83\00:15:56.45 we're not the right Man on our side, 00:15:56.46\00:15:58.72 the Man of God's own choosing, dost ask who that may be? 00:15:58.73\00:16:03.12 It is Jesus Christ, it is He, Lord Sabbath is His name, 00:16:03.13\00:16:07.12 from age to age he is the same, 00:16:07.13\00:16:09.28 and he must win the battle." 00:16:09.29\00:16:13.74 We must win the battle, the Christian race, 00:16:13.75\00:16:17.56 the Christian walk to the Holy City. 00:16:17.57\00:16:20.02 Point number three, if we must enter 00:16:20.03\00:16:22.67 through the city gates and walk the narrow gate, 00:16:22.68\00:16:28.26 we must travel light on our journey. 00:16:28.27\00:16:31.36 You see the wide gate and the broad road seems 00:16:31.37\00:16:34.19 far more inviting is spacious, is permissive 00:16:34.20\00:16:37.99 and it allows everything and anything goes in that, 00:16:38.00\00:16:43.75 along that road in that pathway. 00:16:43.76\00:16:46.24 And those who travel along these road 00:16:46.25\00:16:49.10 take all kinds of garbage and all kinds of baggage, 00:16:49.11\00:16:52.08 no restrictions but along the narrow path heavy load, 00:16:52.09\00:16:56.04 much luggage hinder easy movement. 00:16:56.05\00:17:01.93 The Apostle Paul compared the walk 00:17:01.94\00:17:05.63 along the narrow road to a race. 00:17:05.64\00:17:08.90 Where he says that he is running a race 00:17:08.91\00:17:12.52 and he mellows his body 00:17:12.53\00:17:15.03 and he does not run like a man endlessly, 00:17:15.04\00:17:17.63 but he fights on hoping to win the prize. 00:17:17.64\00:17:24.70 The Bible says that, "Others have gone on before us 00:17:24.71\00:17:28.30 along this pathway, this narrow gate, 00:17:28.31\00:17:31.85 passed through it successfully and that they are waiting. 00:17:31.86\00:17:36.28 Hebrews Chapter 12, verse 1 tells us 00:17:36.29\00:17:39.26 that some have gone this path 00:17:39.27\00:17:46.43 before and were successful. 00:17:46.44\00:17:48.07 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded 00:17:48.08\00:17:52.27 by so great a cloud of witnesses, 00:17:52.28\00:17:55.39 let us lay aside every weight, 00:17:55.40\00:17:58.49 and every sin which so easily ensnares us, 00:17:58.50\00:18:04.21 and let us run with perseverance, 00:18:04.22\00:18:07.37 with endurance the race that is set before us." 00:18:07.38\00:18:13.81 So, Christian friend, 00:18:13.82\00:18:15.31 keep on keeping on this life's journey. 00:18:15.32\00:18:20.06 If we must... The fourth point now, 00:18:20.07\00:18:23.05 if we must enter through the small gate 00:18:23.06\00:18:26.41 and journey along the narrow path into the holy city, 00:18:26.42\00:18:30.30 we must claim the strength for the journey. 00:18:30.31\00:18:33.83 Jesus knew that this journey will be tiring and worrisome 00:18:33.84\00:18:37.17 but, so he made promise to us. 00:18:37.18\00:18:40.51 Along the pathway, 00:18:40.52\00:18:41.59 He lined it up with strength and courage 00:18:41.60\00:18:45.51 and he invites us to come, 00:18:45.52\00:18:47.51 all you who are weary and burden 00:18:47.52\00:18:50.57 and I will give you rest, Jesus said, 00:18:50.58\00:18:53.25 and this is a promise of Jesus himself will keep 00:18:53.26\00:18:55.31 and when we accept him as our personal savior, 00:18:55.32\00:18:57.73 he gives us power to walk along this path 00:18:57.74\00:19:00.57 and the strength to endure a trials along this path. 00:19:00.58\00:19:04.05 Isaiah, even foresaw the path, 00:19:04.06\00:19:07.60 the strength that Jesus would give 00:19:07.61\00:19:11.08 to all those who believe in him. 00:19:11.09\00:19:13.39 In Isaiah Chapter 40, verses 28 through 31, 00:19:13.40\00:19:17.68 he asked us a question, "Does thou not know? 00:19:17.69\00:19:21.30 "Have you not known? Have you not heard? 00:19:21.31\00:19:23.97 The everlasting God, the Lord, 00:19:23.98\00:19:26.85 the Creator of the ends of the earth, 00:19:26.86\00:19:30.73 neither faints nor is weary. 00:19:30.74\00:19:33.20 His understanding is unsearchable. 00:19:33.21\00:19:36.30 He gives power to the weak, 00:19:36.31\00:19:38.02 and to those who have no might He increases strength. 00:19:38.03\00:19:41.77 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, 00:19:41.78\00:19:45.19 and the young men shall utterly fall, 00:19:45.20\00:19:49.38 but those who wills wait on the Lord 00:19:49.39\00:19:52.00 shall renew their strength. 00:19:52.01\00:19:53.19 They shall mount up with wings like eagles, 00:19:53.20\00:19:55.47 they shall run and not be weary, 00:19:55.48\00:19:57.28 they shall walk and not faint." 00:19:57.29\00:20:00.01 This is the grace of God in action, 00:20:00.02\00:20:03.72 This is the grace of God in action. 00:20:03.73\00:20:06.49 Therefore, let us run the race that he set before us, 00:20:06.50\00:20:09.24 let us walk the pathway claiming the strength 00:20:09.25\00:20:14.24 that Jesus alone gives, when we become tired 00:20:14.25\00:20:17.00 and worn along this pathway let us persevere, 00:20:17.01\00:20:20.16 let us keep on and keeping on. 00:20:20.17\00:20:23.32 When the race of life becomes dreary and weary, 00:20:23.33\00:20:26.39 let us persevere and keep our eyes on Jesus 00:20:26.40\00:20:29.41 and when it seems that all of life would crumble 00:20:29.42\00:20:32.51 right upon us, let us persevere 00:20:32.52\00:20:35.14 and let us keep on, keeping on. 00:20:35.15\00:20:37.45 And the last point, point number five. 00:20:37.46\00:20:40.23 I like to share with you along this pathway 00:20:40.24\00:20:43.01 today is if we must enter through the small gate 00:20:43.02\00:20:46.89 and journey along that path that leads 00:20:46.90\00:20:49.64 to the everlasting eternal kingdom 00:20:49.65\00:20:53.41 that Jesus is preparing for us. 00:20:53.42\00:20:56.07 We must focus on Jesus. 00:20:56.08\00:20:58.38 You see, today we focus on 00:20:58.39\00:20:59.88 people focus on so many things, 00:20:59.89\00:21:01.70 but the Bible tells us that, 00:21:01.71\00:21:03.17 "anything shut of this results 00:21:03.18\00:21:05.99 in discouragement and failure." 00:21:06.00\00:21:08.63 Therefore as we are traveling along the pathway, 00:21:08.64\00:21:12.13 along that small path, let us focus on Jesus. 00:21:12.14\00:21:15.84 In Hebrews Chapter 12, verse 2, 00:21:15.85\00:21:18.01 we've told that we must face our eyes on Jesus, 00:21:18.02\00:21:21.40 and run the race that is set before us. 00:21:21.41\00:21:23.77 He says, "Looking unto Jesus, 00:21:23.78\00:21:25.51 the author and the finisher of our faith, 00:21:25.52\00:21:27.94 who for the joy that was set before Him 00:21:27.95\00:21:31.04 endured the cross, despising the shame, 00:21:31.05\00:21:34.44 and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." 00:21:34.45\00:21:40.32 Christian friend, if we must walk, 00:21:43.52\00:21:47.99 if we must enter that small gate 00:21:48.00\00:21:54.08 and walk along that narrow path. 00:21:54.09\00:21:57.52 We must keep on, keeping on recognizing 00:21:57.53\00:22:03.04 that the journey may seem worrisome and difficult 00:22:03.05\00:22:06.58 but Jesus is the way, the truth and life 00:22:06.59\00:22:12.25 and there is salvation in no one else, 00:22:12.26\00:22:15.21 for there is no other name on the heaven 00:22:15.22\00:22:20.04 given among men by which we must be saved 00:22:20.05\00:22:25.84 is only through Jesus Christ, our Lord. 00:22:25.85\00:22:27.92 If we must enter through eternity, 00:22:27.93\00:22:30.24 small gate and narrow road, we must keep on, 00:22:30.25\00:22:33.96 keeping on constantly ascending from grace to grace, 00:22:33.97\00:22:38.43 climbing from heights to heights, 00:22:38.44\00:22:40.08 knowing that there is a crown 00:22:40.09\00:22:41.77 that is waiting beyond the bright mansions for us 00:22:41.78\00:22:44.70 and soon with a sense made perfect at home 00:22:44.71\00:22:48.13 with the Lord we shall be. 00:22:48.14\00:22:50.36 Point number three, we talked about, 00:22:50.37\00:22:52.65 if we must enter through eternity's gate 00:22:52.66\00:22:56.84 and walk along that narrow road, 00:22:56.85\00:22:59.16 we must travel alight, no garbage, 00:22:59.17\00:23:01.82 no baggage that hinders 00:23:03.81\00:23:05.53 our movement to the heavenly Zion. 00:23:05.54\00:23:07.17 We must lay aside all burdens that pull us back, 00:23:07.18\00:23:11.35 all attitudes and deficiencies of character 00:23:11.36\00:23:14.14 that pull us away from the cross 00:23:14.15\00:23:17.72 and from the pathway. 00:23:17.73\00:23:19.70 For by grace, we have been saved through faith. 00:23:19.71\00:23:23.43 The Bible tells us and that not of ourselves, 00:23:23.44\00:23:27.16 it is the gift of God, not of works, 00:23:27.17\00:23:30.35 lest anyone should boast for we are God's workmanship, 00:23:30.36\00:23:37.73 created in Christ Jesus on to good works, 00:23:37.74\00:23:42.71 which God himself had prepared, 00:23:42.72\00:23:45.37 ordained that we should walk in them. 00:23:45.38\00:23:50.36 If we must enter through eternity's gate, 00:23:50.37\00:23:57.10 through a small gate. 00:23:57.11\00:23:59.35 So, we must travel lite, no garbage, no baggage 00:23:59.36\00:24:03.75 that hinders our movement to the heavenly Zion. 00:24:03.76\00:24:07.93 Point number four that I would like to-- 00:24:07.94\00:24:10.81 that we shared already with you is that, 00:24:10.82\00:24:13.41 "if we must enter through the small gate 00:24:13.42\00:24:16.65 and journey along the narrow path, 00:24:16.66\00:24:19.36 we must claim the strength for the journey." 00:24:19.37\00:24:24.66 Point number five, "if we must enter into eternity's gate 00:24:24.67\00:24:32.27 and walk the narrow path into the small gate 00:24:32.28\00:24:36.62 we must keep our eyes on Jesus, 00:24:36.63\00:24:41.83 that rock on which we stand, 00:24:41.84\00:24:44.11 the gate through which we go in to the Father." 00:24:44.12\00:24:49.08 Therefore, since we have a great high priest 00:24:49.09\00:24:52.69 who has gone through the heavens. 00:24:52.70\00:24:55.35 The Bible tells us in Hebrew, 00:24:55.36\00:24:57.18 Chapter 4 verses 14 through 16, 00:24:57.19\00:24:59.56 "Seeing then that we have a great high priest 00:24:59.57\00:25:03.44 who has passed through the heavens, 00:25:03.45\00:25:05.14 Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 00:25:05.15\00:25:10.80 For we do not have a high priest 00:25:10.81\00:25:12.75 who cannot sympathize with our weakness, 00:25:12.76\00:25:15.18 but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 00:25:15.19\00:25:20.86 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, 00:25:20.87\00:25:23.72 that we may obtain mercy 00:25:23.73\00:25:25.81 and find grace to help us in our time of need." 00:25:25.82\00:25:32.03 Come on, Christian friends, come now 00:25:32.04\00:25:33.94 therefore we who love the Lord, 00:25:33.95\00:25:36.80 come and let's make our joy known join in a song 00:25:36.81\00:25:41.88 with sweet accord and thus surround the throne 00:25:41.89\00:25:44.97 because we're marching to Zion, 00:25:44.98\00:25:47.03 beautiful, beautiful Zion, 00:25:47.04\00:25:49.41 the beautiful city of God. 00:25:49.42\00:25:52.23 Christian friends, 00:25:52.24\00:25:54.51 let me share that text with you again, 00:25:54.52\00:25:57.99 Psalm 121, please read it with me, 00:25:58.00\00:26:02.61 "I will lift up my eyes to the hills-- 00:26:02.62\00:26:07.97 From whence comes my help? 00:26:07.98\00:26:12.72 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 00:26:12.73\00:26:18.72 He will not allow your foot to be moved, 00:26:18.73\00:26:23.65 and He who keeps you will not slumber. 00:26:23.66\00:26:27.96 Behold, He who keeps Israel. 00:26:27.97\00:26:32.84 He who kept Israel and He who will continue 00:26:32.85\00:26:37.23 to keep the Israel of God, 00:26:37.24\00:26:39.62 shall neither slumber nor sleep. 00:26:39.63\00:26:42.54 The Lord is your keeper 00:26:42.55\00:26:44.23 and will continue to be your keeper. 00:26:44.24\00:26:46.79 The Lord is your shade at your right hand. 00:26:46.80\00:26:50.42 The sun shall not strike you by day, 00:26:50.43\00:26:53.17 nor the moon by night. 00:26:53.18\00:26:56.83 The Lord shall preserve you from all evil, 00:26:56.84\00:27:02.49 from all sickness, from all evil or the enemy. 00:27:02.50\00:27:08.98 He shall preserve your soul. 00:27:08.99\00:27:11.88 As long as we keep our eyes stare at him, 00:27:11.89\00:27:15.25 as long as we keep the faith of Jesus, 00:27:15.26\00:27:18.65 as long as we keep being faithful, 00:27:18.66\00:27:21.82 the Lord shall preserve your going out 00:27:21.83\00:27:24.68 and your coming in from this time forth, 00:27:24.69\00:27:29.27 forevermore and more forever and ever. 00:27:29.28\00:27:35.79 Trust in the Lord with all your mind 00:27:35.80\00:27:39.08 and keep faithful, be faithful, 00:27:39.09\00:27:42.34 continue to walk in that path. 00:27:42.35\00:27:44.18 Let me pray with you. 00:27:44.19\00:27:45.38 Father, help us to be faithful and walk faithfully, 00:27:45.39\00:27:50.55 courageously, give us the strength to walk 00:27:50.56\00:27:52.39 along that path in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 00:27:52.40\00:27:58.06