STRIVE TO ENTER THROUGH THE NARROW GATE - Matt 7:13
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| Image credit: Hymnslab |
It is the Mothers' day celebration in our church and we are given this topic to teach during the service: Thrive to enter through the narrow gate. The topic was taken from the gospel of Matthew 7 verse 13:
13 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:
(a) Strive: work so hard, exert much energy, don’t be lazy, always be strong.
(b) Enter: walk-in, follow, go in.
(c) Through the narrow gate: the gate leading to the destination, not wide, not spacious, not broad, the gate that does not allow comfortability.
To be honest with you, I didn't know how to break the topic initially until I begged the Holy Spirit to help me. First I didn't think the topic was apt for the occasion. Here we are talking about appreciating the mothers, we are saying striving to enter through the narrow gate.
But when my eyes were opened, I saw reasons why women needed to be told to strive in a time like this. We have to dissect the topic and bring out some questions to be able to understand the topic.
4 Questions we need to answer in this topic:
(1) Why use the word strive?
(2) Who is being spoken to?
(3) Where are we entering?
(4) Who will strive to enter?
STRIVE TO ENTER THROUGH THE NARROW GATE - Matt 7:13
The word strive is used because it is not an easy task. There are two gates that are before us. One is the gate of hell the other is the gate of Heaven. The other is broad and easy while the other is narrow. The narrowness does not have a palatable experience. There are a lot of distractions and side attractions. The word ‘Strive’ was carefully selected to buttress the nature of the journey the children of God are embarking upon.
Who is being spoken to? everybody, every child of God but today, it is mostly referred to the women. The category that will make it to the narrow gate are those virtuous women who are being sought for.
Who will strive to enter through the narrow gate? The category of women that will make it to the narrow gate is those virtuous women; the women of Noble characters.
Who are these women of noble characters? She can be found in Prov. 31:10-12. Who can find a virtuous woman? They are few in society and hard to find. It is rare. Anyone who must become one must strive through the narrow gate.
7 things a virtuous woman does and 7 things a virtuous woman does not do
(1) She does good to her husband but she does not neglect the needy.
(2) She opens her mouth and speaks with wisdom but she is not loud Prov. 7:11.
(3) A virtuous woman is brave but she is not disrespectful.
(4) She is a busy woman Prov.31:13-17 but she is not a busy body 1 Tim. 5:13. She teaches the young women to be sober Tit. 2:4.
(5) She may be the family breadwinner but she does not nag her husband.
(6) She honors the Lord with her body but she does not look unkept Prov. 31:22.
(7) She is a tiger in prayer but she does not deprive her husband of his right. Sex is a marital right, not to be used to punish or reward. 1 Cor. 7:5.