Strait Gate & Narrow Way

The Strait Gate and Narrow Way are the instructions Christ gave in Matthew 7:13-14 to find eternal life.

This journey (read Pilgrims Progress I do belive John Bunyan was a Narrow Way christian) is to become your #1 priority in your life forsaking all others and everything else (remember Jesus said if you did not love your mother/father LESS... and pick up your cross daily) just getting through the gate is hard enough with all the obstacles (which can be found in the parable of the sower) everything will try and stop you from even attempting it and its a real struggle to even decide if you can do it.
Lu 14:28
For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

Once you have been able to squeeze through then your journey begins. God will draw you down the way, the Holy Spirit will Guide you down the way and Jesus Christ will be WAITING AT THE END. Not the beginning!

Its a screening process for lack of a better phrase. Whereby God will peel you like a onion i.e grind you to powder, and show you your depraved wicked evil antichrist heart
Jer 17:9 -
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
this process which all you do is 'the search' (picking up your bible and a concordance and searching out Christ)

That is why the seek, knock, search and ask is in the Bible that is what we are to do.
Heb 11:6 -
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Other than the tedious work of looking up everyword in the Bible and checking what is really being said, you 'd be amazed what word studies will do for ya, thats about all there is to it.
God does it all, there is no right way or wrong way, just doing it, not letting anything or anyone stop, stall or derail you.

In fact satan's has what I call the 'D's'
(which are also in the parable of the sower)

Deception
Distraction
Delusion

God decides when the process is complete NOT YOU, He decides when your heart is ready NOT YOU, He decides when you become BORN AGAIN/REGENERATED ~ NOT YOU!

Its a long process, average time about 3 1/2 years (interesting number) its hard and thats why 99% of christians choose the believe and receive way as its so much easier than the narrow way.

Shenandoah

Here is something someone who has completed the process wrote.

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SCREENING PROCESS

The narrow way is not one in which you CRUCIFY YOURSELF, it is SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH. ASK, SEEK ,KNOCK and STRIVE ARE RELATED TO THE SEARCH. They go back to the Proverbs to seek after wisdom and understanding with all of your strengh, heart and mind. In other words, you are involved in a SEARCH FOR THE REAL AND LITERAL TRUTH BEHIND THE UNIVERSE ITSELF.

Proverbs 3:35-4:9
The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
[4:1] Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. [2] For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. [3] For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. [4] He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. [5] Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. [6] Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. [7] Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. [8] Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. [9] She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

Proverbs 3:13-18
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. [14] For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. [15] She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. [16] Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. [17] Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. [18] She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

Notice what is says that WISDOM BRINGS: SHE IS A TREE OF LIFE - in that she will bring you to THE ULTIMATE TRUTH, THE ULTIMATE WISDOM - DIVINE AGAPE. AGAPE IS CHRIST, the ULTIMATE WISDOM. There is always a perfect harmony in these things.


Proverbs 2:1-9
My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; [2] So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; [3] Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; [4] If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; [5] Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. [6] For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. [7] He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. [8] He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. [9] Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.



Notice the WARNINGS that are given to those who refuse it:



Proverbs 1:22-33
How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? [23] Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
[24] Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; [25] But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: [26] I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; [27] When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. [28] Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: [29] For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: [3 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. [31] Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. [32] For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. [33] But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

This entire thing here is serious beyond words. It means what it says. God evidently has set up some sort of a SCREENING PROCESS as to who gets into heaven and who does not. Now WISDOM and UNDERSTANDING are not always related to INTELLIGENCE OR HOW SMART WE ARE, OR IF WE CAN QUOITE THE bIBLE BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS. That is merely A MEMORY FUNCTION, and many there be that are experts in being able to quote verse by verse that have no real concept as to what it means.

1 Cor. 12:27-13:8
Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. [28] And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. [29] Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? [3 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? [31] But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
[13:1] Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. [2] And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. [3] And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. [4] Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, [5] Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; [6] Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; [7] Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. [8] Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

The only thing that finally remains is CHARITY and the word CHARITY is AGAPE. And the only source for TRUE CHARITY IS JESUS CHRIST. We have come full circle, we are back where we started. LAY HOLD OF CHRIST, SEARCH HIM OUT WITH ALL DILIGENCE:

Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

The word DILIGENT means to INVESITGATE, CRAVE and DEMAND. It is about the same thing as IMPORTUNITY:

Luke 11:5-13
And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; [6] For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? [7] And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. [8] I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. [9] And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. [1 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. [11] If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? [12] Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? [13] If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Did God open the Door of HEAVEN simply because A FRIEND KNOCKED? You see GOD THE FATHER IS RECONCILED TO THE WORLD. MANKIND IS NOW HIS FRIEND because of the WORK OF THE CROSS. But God is NOT GOING TO ANSWER THE DOOR OF HEAVEN simply because one goes up to it and knocks GENTLY. To the contrary, one KNOCKS LOUDLY, AS LOUDLY AS POSSIBLE. One KEEPS KNOCKING. One threatens to go get explosives and blow the door open if it is not OPENED. One keeps on, and one does not QUIT. Do you know what IMPORTUNITY ACTUALLY MEANS? IMPUDENCE - RUDE BEHAVIOR, INCESSENT RUDE BEGAVIOR. You see it is RUDE TO GO TO SOMEONES HOUSE AT MIDNIGHT and roust them out of bed. Most will IGNORE THE KNOCKING and not even come to the door. By knocking LOUDLY and INCESSENTLY the owner of house, will come to the door because he knows if HE DOES NOT, YOU WILL KEEP KNOCKING AND REFUSE TO LEAVE. that is not good manners. It is RUDE. Neverthess, this RUDE BEHAVIOR IS EXACTLY WHAT GOD DEMANDS OF ANYONE WHO IS GOING TO CRASH HEAVEN"S GATE.

YOU ARE, via the HOLY SPIRIT, knocking upon GOD'S DOOR. Bob Dylan wrote a beautiful song called KNOCK, KNOCK KNOCKIN ON HEAVENS DOOR. The words ASK, SEEK and KNOCK and the word STRAIT and NARROW, and LABOUR and STRIVE all mean the same thing - NOTICE WHEN THE DOOR FINALLY OPENS, AND GOD ASKS THE VISITOR WHAT HE WANTS WHAT THE ANSWER IS:

THREE LOAVES OF BREAD: GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON, GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT. "I want it all!" God will give you ALL because HE PROMISED HE WOULD. But He said HE WOULD NOT unless you were really INVOLVED AND WOULD NOT TAKE "NO" FOR AN ANSWER.

Matthew 11:12
And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

THE VIOLENT TAKE IT BY FORCE - The word violent mean FORCER, ENERGETIC. If you do not display this type of FORCE, this type of SEEKING, we are being told to forget it. YOU MUST, YOU MUST DEVELOPE THE ATTITUDE THAT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO QUIT, NOT FOR ANY REASON UNDER THE SUN, NOT FOR ANY REASON WHATSOEVER, AND GOD HAD JUST BETTER GET USE TO THE IDEA THAT YOU ARE GOING TO FORCE ENTRY INTO HEAVEN.

And I can attest He will try you to the end of your patience and well beyond, but if you REFUSE TO QUIT He will answer and give you THREE LOAVES OF BREAD.

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HOW WE APPLY THE WORD TO OUR LIVES

Well ,thats a good question - I guess it means that the Bible is written to you personally, from God. It is His handbook to you to show you how YOU operate. What He says then, must be applied in a personal way to you, with your personality, your life and your history. In other words, He always works INDIVIDUALLY towards you, for example, the Gospel of John is a love letter from God direct to you, to your heart. Do you apploy that love letter to yourself every day - likewise, the commands to enter in at direct from the Lord to you as an individual. Many people think the Bible was written to the world, which is one sense it was, but in a very real sense it was written direct to Abby - as though you were the only person in the world that Jesus came here to save.

When Jesus came to me, He called me by name: "Stewart". He actually KNEW MY NAME. The creator of the entire universe, all of the TRILLIONS OF GALAXIES WITH ALL OF THEIR TRILLIONS OF STARS, and space so huge we cannot even measure it or fathom it, and here He is, running all of that, keeping everyhting going everywhere, and yet for all of that, He stopped, He came down here to my puny sin ridden soul and said Stewart. WOW!!! "I know my sheep, and call them by NAME".


John 10:3
To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

He calls us BY NAME. He did, He knew my name. He knew what I was looking for - the TRUTH behind the entire universe. I wanted to know what the REAL TRUTH WAS. It was of course JESUS CHRIST, THE SPIRIT OF DIVINE AGAPE. He is alive and He knows each of us - all of our tears, weeping, depressions, joys, troubles. He knows it, and He IS THERE, RIGHT BESIDE YOU. YOU MAY NOT FEEL IT, YOU MAY NOT EVEN SENSE IT AT ALL, BUT HE IS RIGHT THERE ALL THE TIME. He knows EVERYTHING.

Think of it. He knows all about you, everything. So then we apply this book, this testament to ourselves POERSONALLY, because that is really what it is - a book to each of us, a letter from God addressed to eash one of us. WOW!!

So then, it is like a father that writes to us and gives us advice. We can accept it and act upon it or reject it and forget it.

Who can be against us if God be FOR US?

 

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Hulda Clark cleanses
Wormwood, Clove, Clarkia, Turmeric, Epsom Salt, Uva Ursi, Goldenrod