The Strait Gate Versus Broadway. Part [2] 03/05/2024 (Evening thought)

Colossians 3: 5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Mortify meaning: abase, belittle, chasten, control, crush, deny, disappoint, discipline, discomfit, harass, humble, ridicule, bother. There are numerous smooth-talking, Bible twisting, Scripture misinterpreting, soothsaying, and money grabbing televangelists, who, by practicing financial stop and frisk, have watered down the pure word of God to make it appealing to the masses of people in an effort to soothe itching ears, while, at the same time, they make billions off of poorer congregants.

What they say may sound good, and they may use catchy phrases such as the 3 frogs in Revelation 16 use with their tongues, such as “Name it and claim it” but beneath their outer veneer of cute sayings, lies the desiccated Bible, that has lost its force to do good among men. The word of God is plain and simple: If you choose the strait, and narrow path that leads to life eternal there are certain things you just cannot do. Period!

In other words, the cravings of the flesh must all be subjugated and killed, through the indwelling of the Holy Ghost, and in cooperation with Christ, through our freedom of choice. And the laws, and principles of God’s kingdom must be etched indelibly into the heart. That’s the strait gate given in a nutshell.

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!

The Strait Gate Versus Broadway. Part [1] 03/04/2024 (Morning thought)

Matthew 7:13 Enter you in at the strait gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction and many there be which go in therein. 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it.

The strait gate, and the broad way represent two of the most divergent views and perspectives adopted by the human family, which did not originate with man. The strait gate comes to us from God, but the broad way is a perspective on life that has its origins with satan. The word “Strait” refers to restrictions, or self-denial that are integral aspects of the strait, or narrow way.

To put it in layman’s terms, the strait way does not allow a person to do as he or she pleases. Instead, everything that is said, done, or chosen, is referred first, and processed through the word of God for an approval. And if such things are out of line with the word they are shelved, or put in the garbage as the case might be. In other words, persons who walk through the strait gate live by the maxim “If God says it, I believe it, and that settles it for me.” Let none be deceived, about this, for the Bible teaches these sacred truths without any apologies.

Galatians 5:16 This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that you cannot do the things that you would. 18 But if you be led of the Spirit, you are not under the  law.

Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envying, murders, drunkenness, reveling, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!