Well, good morning. We would like to welcome you to our morning worship service. And we do pray that the Lord will meet with you here in a special way. And we will commence our morning service singing a hymn, 513. And must not forget the online folks as well. You're more than welcome. And we do pray for you once again. 513. No, not one. There's not a friend like the lowly Jesus. No, not one. No, not one. None else could heal our soul's diseases. No, not one. No, not one. Jesus knows all about our struggles. He will guide till the day is done. There's not a friend like the lowly Jesus. No, not one. No, not one. Let us stand to sing the entire hymn. ♪ Lift up heaven and earth, O ye heavens and earth ♪ ♪ Lord of all, Lord of all ♪ ♪ God of spirit, God of soul, Jesus Christ, Lord of all ♪ ♪ Of our strongholds, he grew back to be his own ♪ ♪ He's our friend like no other in the world ♪ ♪ Lord of all, Lord of all ♪ Lord of all, Lord of all. Thank Him for friendliness so we can believe. Lord of all, Lord of all. Jesus knows all of our struggles. He will guide us. He came to us, Lord of all, Lord of all. Lord, it is your power that is helping us, Lord of all, Lord of all. Oh, bless our lives, Lord, and hear us, Lord of all. Jesus knows all of our sorrows He will guide till the day is done Where's my friend, my fellow, meet me not? No, not one. No, not one. No, not one. No, not one. Lord of all, Lord of all. Lord of all, Lord of all. Lord of all, Lord of all. Lord of all, Lord of all. Lord of all, Lord of all. Amen. You may be seated. Let us bow our heads in prayer asking for the Lord's help in this morning's worship service. Our gracious heavenly Father, we thank thee once again that we are found in thy place of worship. Lord, we thank Thee that we can truly sing that hymn from the heart. What a friend we have in Jesus. And Lord, we thank Thee that even through all our struggles, that Lord, we know that Thou does draw nigh even to Thy people. And Lord, we pray as Thou art prophet, priest, and king, that, Lord, that Thou would draw nigh to us even here this morning. Lord, I pray for this congregation. I pray for every heart here. I pray that Thou would tend to every need. Thou dost see the struggles of Thy people. Thou dost see the struggles of the time. But Lord, we thank Thee as we even know in the Scriptures that Jesus Himself drew near. Draw nigh to us, we pray, Lord, that it would please Thee to meet with us in a special way, that, Lord, that we would know the gospel message even clearer, that we would know even the voice of the Savior, that Christ would be lifted up. And Lord, we pray for that atoning death, Lord, if there is but a blind eye here this morning. If there is one here, Lord, that doesn't know Thee, if there is one here, Lord, that is in darkness, then I pray for that soul. And I pray, O Lord, that Thou would meet with us in a redemptive way, that, Lord, that fingers would be pointed to Calvary, and, Lord, that the cross would be seen even here. And, Lord, we pray that we confess to Thee our shortcomings. Lord, we think of that great verse that all have come short from the grace and the glory of God. We think also that when it says that there is not one righteous, no, not one. Lord, we are conceivable of our human nature. We think of our framework from but the mere dust of the ground. Lord, what could we possibly accomplish this morning apart from the spirit of the living God? So Lord, we call upon Thy name. We call upon the true God of heaven. Lord, if Thou would rend the heavens and come down here this morning to meet with everyone, to show Thy glory. And Lord, we pray that this would be done not to the glory of men, but to the glory of Christ Jesus. And Lord, we pray once again for those that are in utter need of help. We think of Mr. Bodnar at this time. We pray that thou would meet with him in a special way. We think of all of those unprayed for prayer requests this morning. We pray, O Lord, that thou would meet with families. We pray for household salvation. We think of those that are not even in this place. Lord, we pray for them. And Lord, we think also of let the Bible speak, radio ministry. We think of the gospel message that every time it goes over the air. Lord, we pray that thou would bring fruit of the labor. For Lord, we know that thou did say that my word would not return unto me void. Give help, O Lord, as we walk the narrow path this morning. Give help to the speaker. Give help to the hearers of the word. And Lord, that thy word would be received with great gladness. And Lord, we thank thee for the good news of the gospel. And Lord, we pray once again that Thou would bring revival here. Fill the empty seats, we pray. Lord, may there be convincing of sin and pointing to the Savior. And Lord, that Thou would do that great and marvelous work, for Thou does have the power to save. Lord, we look to Thee at this time. There's nowhere for else us to look. But look, we look to the Savior, Lord, that Thou would be pleased with us even here this morning. We think also of Reverend Cranston. We pray for him. Give him strength, we pray, to preach thy word. And Lord, we pray for others that need a touch from thee. And Lord, we pray once again that it would please thee to meet with thy people. Meet with us in a special way. In Jesus' precious and holy name, amen. Let us turn to another hymn, 345. 345, a Fanny Crosby's great hymn, Pass me not, O gentle Savior, Hear my humble cry, While on others thou art calling, Do not pass me by. Let us stand to sing the entire hymn. I am God, and Thou art calling, to the Pasch divine. Savior, Savior, hear my humble cry. I am God, and Thou art calling, to the Pasch divine. ♪ Even their demon's pressure can't help me weep ♪ ♪ Savior, Savior, hear my humble cry ♪ ♪ While the waters now are flowing through the passing night ♪ ♪ Sing of the angel in the grave ♪ ♪ Lord, I see your face ♪ ♪ In my heart and in my spirit ♪ ♪ Save me by my praise ♪ ♪ Savior, Savior ♪ ♪ With my humble cry ♪ ♪ Blossom in us ♪ ♪ God is greater than what you are in earth ♪ ♪ More than life is to me ♪ ♪ You are my identity ♪ ♪ You remind me of me ♪ You may be seated. What great words of truth that we just sang Please take your Bibles this morning and if you can turn to Proverbs. Proverbs chapter 14. Proverbs chapter 14, and we will commence our reading at verse 5. Hear the word of the Lord. A faithful witness will not lie, but a false witness will utter lies. A scorner seeketh wisdom and findeth it not, but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth. Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge. The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way, but the folly of the fool is deceit. Fools make a mock of sin, but among the righteous there is favor. The heart knoweth his own bitterness, and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy. The house of the wicked shall be overthrown, but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish. There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Even in laughter, The heart is sorrowful, and the end of that mirth is heaviness. The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways, and a good man shall be set aside from himself. The simple believeth every word, but the prudent man looketh well to his going. A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil. but the fool rageth and is confident. He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly. The man of wicked devices is hated. The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. The evil bow before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous." Notice once again, As it says in verse 12, which we will come back to later on, there is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. And may the Lord add his own blessing to his infallible, inherent, and inspired word. Well, I'd like to welcome everyone this morning to this morning's worship service. And it is a pleasure once again to bring to you a word from the Lord. I tell you, our time is coming very short. I remember nine months ago, our first service here, but as you all can relate, well, time goes by very quickly. So we only have a couple services left, but on behalf of me and my family, it has been a great pleasure to dwell amongst you folks. And we are very thankful for your prayers, each and every one of your prayers. And we do pray that the Lord will meet with each and every one of you, even in a special way here this morning. Just a couple of announcements. Do remember some prayer requests, as we do have some health concerns from Pastor Bodnar as well. I'm sure he would covet your prayers, as he did not get a good report there in hospital, and do remember also Serene, and do remember these folks in your prayers as well as Mr. Reverend Cranston as well. And just a word of note to those who are traveling, do remember your own pastor here and his family as they do travel to the USA, and I'm sure they would covet your prayers there. Do remember also the elder here, James, James and Diana Fraser, as they do travel as well, along with George Robinson as well, who has commenced his journey to Northern Ireland. So do remember... Sunday, this evening's pre-service prayer time at 5.50, 5.50 p.m. along with 6.30 as being the evening worship service, which I pray, Lord willing, that I will be the speaker here tonight as well. And do remember that there is a youth choir practice after this evening service for those who are in the youth choir. And also do remember Wednesday night prayer meeting as we urge all to come out to the prayer meeting and to make your petitions known to the Lord. As we urge each and every one of you to come out, whether online or in person, we do urge you, as it said, the very furnace of the church is the prayer meetings. So we urge you even to be there in person. Do also remember Friday, 6 p.m., the gym fellowship. And also Saturday, March 25th at 1 p.m. The Truth In My Days Easter Conference. Pastor John Torres at the TFPC. Everyone is invited. And if you find yourself there, well, that would be good for everyone is invited to that Eastern Conference, March 25th at 1 p.m. Do also remember next Lord's Day services, 9.55 a.m. We have the Sunday school for all ages and also 11 a.m. morning service, which Dr. Saunders will be back for that. And also 6.30 p.m. evening service, which he will be back for that as well. And just a couple of advanced announcements. Tuesday, March 28th at 7 p.m., the Women's Bible Study. And Saturday, April 1st, Youth Bowling. You can see Eddie, Daniel or Jonathan for details. And April 7th, 8th and 9th, which is the Port Hope Easter Meetings, which our Reverend John Wagner from the States will come and everyone is invited there as well. And also Thursday, April 13th at 7 p.m., A baby shower for baby Augustus, who was born to Adrian and Teresa Gianello. And details will be in the church bulletin. Those are all the necessary announcements for this morning. We will turn to our third hymn, 346. 346, the cleansing wave, oh now I see the cleansing wave, the fountain deep and wide. Jesus, my Lord, with power to save, points to his wounded side. Let us stand to sing the entire hymn. O praise the Lord immensely! Immensely! Immensely! On every tree I see, I wonder how important Thee. How precious, Lord, important Thee, important Thee as Thine. God be with you. Amen. God bless you. ♪ Amazing grace how sweet the sound ♪ Amen. You may be seated. And what words in verse four, amazing grace does heaven below to feel the blood applied. And Jesus, only Jesus, know my Jesus crucified. And may we know the blood applied here this morning, as I urge you to cling to the Savior, that he would make himself known to you. Please take your Bibles once again, and we will turn to Matthew chapter 7. Matthew chapter 7, and we will be focusing this morning on verses 13 and 14. Hear the word of the Lord. Enter ye in at the straight gate, for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat. Because straight is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it, Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenly wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles? Even so, every good tree bringeth forth good fruit, but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. Wherefore, by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. For many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils, and in thy name done many wonderful works. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you, depart from me, ye that work iniquity. And we will continue to read the entire chapter, verse 24. Therefore, whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and fell not, for it was founded upon a rock. And everyone that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man which built his house upon the sand. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it. And it came to pass when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. Let us bow our heads in prayer, asking for the Lord's help in the preaching of his word. Our gracious heavenly Father, we thank thee once again, O Lord, that we can seek thy help. We think, O Lord, once again of the shortness of the arm of flesh. So, Lord, we pray once again that Thou would open the ears of the hearers. We pray, O now, Lord, that Thou would apply Thy word to the hearts of the people. We pray, O Lord, now that the preacher would preach with clarity of thought. We pray, O Lord, that Thou would visit us afresh with the Spirit of the living God. Come, we pray. Give help, we ask. In Jesus' precious and holy name, amen. In the gospel according to Luke in chapter 13, verse 23, a man asks a question to the Lord Jesus. He says to the Lord Jesus Christ, he says, Lord, are there few that be saved? Then said one, Then said this one, most likely this was not a disciple, but rather one of the Jews who came either to perplex our Lord or to confound him, or to involve him in a controversy with the Pharisees. The man then goes on to ask the question, Lord, are there few that be saved? This would have been the main opinion amongst the Jews that few would enter into heaven. They would often refer to the only of the two hosts that came out of Egypt and entered into the land of Canaan, the promised land. So some of them maintained that a proportionally small number would enter into heaven. It was a question of idle curiosity. The answer to it would have done very little good to this person who asked that question. It was more important for that man to answer his own salvation rather than ask a question of curiosity. It was more important for that man to secure his own salvation by seeking the Lord, by repenting of his sin and believing the gospel rather than engaging in such questions and vain speculations. The answer of our Lord advises him as he makes application to each and every one of us here this morning. In the answer he says, all as he states, he answers the man when he says, strive to enter in at the straight gate. For many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in and shall not be able. That's the answer the Lord gives. The Lord did not answer the man's curiosity. But he comes with a statement here as we come to our text this morning in Matthew 7, verses 13-14. We begin here at the closing section of perhaps the most greatest message ever preached to man. A conclusion to the Sermon on the Mount. The conclusion that our Lord Jesus brings, and He shows us and presents two choices. Two choices for those that are listening to Him. He talks about, they're presented a series of contrasts. There's two ways in verses 13 and 14, a spiritual saying of the two ways of life. He goes on then to talk about two trees in verses 15 to 20, two professions in verses 21 to 23, and two foundations in verses 24 to 29. This was a common method of teaching in both Jewish and Greco-Roman thought. But the Lord, he proclaims the conclusion as he makes a command in the imperative. It's not an opinion, but he gives a command when he says, enter ye in at the straight gate. The straight gate we know, which means narrow, which means that one must come through the narrow gate in order to reach the path that leads to eternal life. Well, it goes on to say, though many are on the broad way that leads to destruction, the gate that leads to life is narrow. And we must understand here this morning that it's not what man says the path is like. It's not with the media as it says to live your best life now. No, the Lord puts an end to those notions, and He makes it clear that the path of life is so narrow that few there be which find it. Broad is the way of destruction, as the Lord claims. And therefore, I want to preach to you this morning on what path are you on in this life. I address each and every one of you personally. Which path of life are you on? Here, we also know, are you on the narrow path or are you on the broad way? The Lord speaks, not of a third way. The world speaks of many ways, many preachers of broad ways, of counterfeit religion, and other ways in contrary to what the Lord Jesus Christ has proclaimed in His Word. Firstly then, let us consider the path of the ungodly is broad. and the entrance upon it is wide. Let us see then as the words of our Lord and notice the words of our text as it states, and many there be which go in. Many there be which go in. A very simple statement from our Lord Jesus because we are living in a time where counterfeit religion has taken over the streets. driveways packed in to Jehovah's Witnesses, as we call them, to Jehovah's false witnesses, kingdom halls filled to the brinks. Jesus Christ, Latter-day Saints, the Book of Mormon, many false Gospels we have in our day. The Bible speaks and it screams about a Broadway, that it seems right, it seems appealing to the ear, it even looks good. The Lord Jesus Christ, as He claims here in the Scriptures, narrow is the path of the righteous. People doing what I'm doing to you this morning, preaching another gospel, going and preaching another way to heaven. And the Lord here, when He comes to His conclusion on the Sermon on the Mount, He puts it all to rest. He shows them that there's only two ways in this life that you can go. According to the Scriptures, everyone who is born of Adam is born in sin and bent towards that is doing which is wrong. As Psalm 51, verse 5, it tells us very clearly. It says, Behold, I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me. This world promotes wickedness. I don't have to prove to you my point that this world promotes wickedness. Politicians that are swift to sign bills that are contrary to the Word of God. School systems that have bent the knee to public opinion. Churches that have compromised the Word of the living God. It is very easy to enter into an ungodly life because all you have to do is nothing at all. All you have to do is nothing at all. All those in sin, all they have to do is absolutely nothing. They just keep continuing on the Broadway and simply do nothing about it. Do not come to the gospel message. Do not accept Christ as your Savior. And the Lord tells us as the end of that road leads to destruction. So friend, I ask you, which path are you on? Which path are you on this morning? And secondly, the path of the godly is narrow and the entrance upon it is straight. We thank the Lord for the second path as he teaches that there is a way out. That there is a way out as we are all born in sin from the transmission of sin from our first parents. That even our first parents as the subtlety of the devil would tell them that ye shall be as gods. The devil was a preacher of the broad way. The devil didn't preach the narrow path. The devil preached the broad way to hell. And instead of our first parents gaining to be gods in this earth, they became ruined pieces of humanity. Instead of gaining all the devil had promised them, they brought sin into this world. And we see here, the way of God's commandments is that to which the godly are confined and the entrance upon it is only by conversion. If you want to see the narrow path this morning, then I tell you, you can't go on it on your own self. You can't work yourself up to say, I'm going to go on the narrow way. For the narrow way is very narrow, and you can't come with the baggage of this world. No one enters the narrow path with their sin on their back. No one enters the narrow path grasping on to the things of this world. When you come to the narrow path, you come spiritually bankrupt. And every born again Christian begins the day they get saved. As we just sang in that hymn, the blood applied. The first day you got saved, you commenced your journey upon the narrow path. That's what the Lord Jesus Christ is teaching. He's saying the only way that you can come through the narrow way is through the Lord Jesus Christ. He talks about the only way when Jesus says that I am the way. Very simple message. To begin at the narrow path, a man must see his sinful state and must come to Christ, who is the door. As the Lord, he points to himself to you this morning, and he shows himself to be the door. The world does not have the answer. When young children are running through schools and they are yet to know, as they say, I have to find myself. I need to find my direction in this life. The only direction you can ever find is that the Bible screams about a narrow way. Dependence on Christ and dedication to Him. He is indeed the straight and narrow way. A partial repentance, a divided trust, easy believism that you can have your sin and still commence on the way to heaven. Easy believism, a divided trust, a religious obedience will never be enough to enter into that narrow gate. Our contrition must be a deep, conscious decision with all your being to go and to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord talks about the path. It's not an easy path. But it must be a deep conscious decision to go and follow the Lord. For the Bible screams that the duty of sinful man is to reach the narrow gate as the Lord. When he preaches the conclusion, he says, enter ye in at the straight gate. He makes a proclamation. For wide is the gate and broad is the way which leadeth to destruction. God never intended that men should follow imagination of their own hearts. It was never God's intention that man was just to make some formal religion with his own imagination and to follow his heart. The Bible gives direction. The Bible gives direction. He calls us to himself and he invites us to come. He invites us to come as difficult as the duty as many in the past have walked the narrow way. We think of the Saint Enoch. It talks about Enoch, how he walked with the Lord. It says he was a friend of God. Enoch walked with the Lord and the Lord took him. Enoch knew what it was to live for Christ in an antediluvian world. where many found destruction. We think of Noah. Noah and his family, many there be, were the words that the Lord said. He says, many, there's going to be, that word many, it means a multitude. In Noah's time, it was only him and his family that were saved. But it didn't stop the broad way of destruction. It was the narrow path for Noah. Moses could have been crowned Pharaoh. The pleasures of sin were very appealing to him. He could have had anything he wanted. But Moses knew what it was to walk the narrow path. As it says in the Scriptures, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God. He chose the narrow path. Isn't that what we read in Proverbs? There is a way which seemeth right for a man. It's appealing to the eye. The Bible, it screams of the pleasures of sin. It screams of the sweetness of sin. And it screams about the end of what sin brings to mankind. For the wages of sin is death, the broad way it looks good, it looks good to the young people. Come, it says, with the lights and with the signposts pointing to different things. There is a way which seemeth right, the Bible says. But the end therein is death. Friend, I pray you would heed to wisdom this morning. I pray you would hear the voice of the Savior, that my friend, there's a great danger. There's a great danger for all those who are on the Broadway. My friend, we're living in a day where that if everyone does it, it makes it right. If everyone's doing something, then it must be right. But remember Joshua, when he was able to step his foot down, and when they were going into idolatry, he says, as for me and my house, He says, I will serve the Lord. When all else are going astray, he's able to lift up the Savior and understand that narrow path to neither look to the right or look to the left, but to say, I will serve the Lord. And therefore, I exhort you, don't stand in this place as a skeptic this morning. There's no middle ground. People think they're going to get to heaven by just being a good person. It was in the Lord's day too. Many thought because they were a Pharisee or a Jew, just because of their birthright, that they would make it to heaven. They thought if they would just do their best to keep the law, they would make it to heaven. Not so, the Bible says. And I exhort you to adhere to the words of Jesus Christ this morning. The command of God is universal. It's very simple. If I could get it, we all can get it. I'm not that smart. The command of God is clear and universal. It applies to other countries, those who do not even speak English, those whether they're coming from another country, another culture, another language. Enter ye in, the Lord says, the straight gate. It's a universal message. Thirdly then, no stronger argument can be set apart from God's Word. There's no other argument that man has apart from God's Word. The Broadway, however crowded, will ultimately and always lead to destruction. There is no way to the left or way to the right. It will always lead to destruction. Every way of sin will destroy the soul, as the Bible says. In Proverbs 14, verse 12, as we went over, it says that there is a way which seemeth right unto a man. But the end, there are the ways of death, a way, a way of the fool, the way of self-indulgence, the way of self-will, self-righteousness. There is a way which seemeth right. As the way of sin and wickedness does, it promises much carnal pleasure, appealing to the eye and seems right, but leads to destruction. The end of the broad way will never change. The Lord Jesus Christ, as He proclaims destruction, He's saying it can never change. The way of sin always ends to destruction. The way of sin destroys homes. It destroys families. It causes people to commit murder. It causes those to go astray. Examples throughout Scripture warn us about the end of the road for those who are on the Broadway, there's a great warning here this morning. Despite the numbers being many, as the Lord states, and many there be which go in, We think of those who occupied Sodom and the Antediluvian world. They were not exempt from punishment because they were many. They were overwhelmed as examples of God's vengeance for all future ages. And then I challenge you then this morning, what path will you follow? Will you follow the crowd? Will you follow what the crowd is doing? Or will you be like the Savior and walk the narrow path? When Christ went to the temple, the temple turned on him. When Christ came to this earth, man turned his back on the Lord Jesus Christ. Why is it then, if the world couldn't get along with the most holiest man alive, why is the world going to get along with you? Will you follow the crowd? When I was seven or eight years old, I came to know the Lord after I watched a film of John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. While John Bunyan was confined in prison for his persistent preaching of the gospel, he wrote a great masterpiece ranked second to the Bible. Pilgrim's Progress, where he portrays a man who is weary, who is sad and greatly burdened by the heavy load of sin that he carried on his back. In Pilgrim's Progress, this great allegory, it starts with Christian understanding his great need of salvation. As he utters those great words in the city of destruction, what must I do to be saved? Is that your cry this morning? God's word always gives direction. You want to know which way to go. Maybe you're like him. What shall I do to be saved? Is that your cry this morning? Then I urge you then it's time to walk the way that leads to glory. It's time to walk the narrow path. And when Evangelist confronts Christian, he says to him, and he points and he says, keep that light in your eye. There's a glimmer of hope just over the valley. Keep that light in your eye, he says. And he hands over the script to Christian, and it reads those words, it says, flee from the wrath to come. His only hope was that light that he saw in his eyes. And in that direction, where Evangelist pointed, was his only hope. Keep that light in your eye and go straight to it, and you shall knock. And the Lord says, it shall be told of you what to do. Enter ye at the straight gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat. For the gate is small and the way is narrow, that leads to life, and few are those that find it. But right off the bat, you see when Christian, when he walked that path, he was confronted by two walkers there next to him as they tried to derail him off his route. And they bid him to return to the city of destruction. And they pointed back to the broadway. And they pointed to him and saying, there's an easier way in which you're going to go, the way of the world. You see, that's what happens in your Christian life. Many come and try to take you off that narrow path. No one has ever regretted, in my whole Christian experience, It's been my own testimony that I can testify what a friend we have in Jesus. Because I've never seen a Christian recount the day he got saved. It's never been done. No one has ever regretted the day they became a Christian. It's never happened before. Those who claim they're on the way to Zion, but decide to take a shortcut. Just as the Lord Jesus Christ, He warns in the next verse, in Matthew 7, verse 15, He begins to say a proclamation, a great word of warning. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenly wolves. Many will come. and try to reroute you off the narrow path. And the harsh reality is, is that it usually starts in a religious setting. That's the harsh reality. Darkness usually starts in the church itself. And here we see who in their preaching describe a broad way to heaven. The world today, it screams that hell is only a place for really bad people. It'll be very hard for you to go to hell. But the Lord Jesus Christ, he says it's very easy. It's very easy for the sinner to destroy himself, because all he has to do is nothing. Broad is the way of the preaching of this world, teaching the broad way rather than walking in it themselves. They chiefly spoken, they are those false prophets who teach any other way that which our Lord here marked out. And the Apostle Paul, he goes on to second that when he addresses the church in Galatia who were being deceived by another gospel. As he states in Galatians 1 verses 8 to 9, Paul puts the strongest argument forward. The offense of the gospel. He puts the strongest argument forward. He affirms that the true gospel has been preached to them. He affirms to them that even if it were a supernatural being come from heaven, an angel come with another gospel. It's not to be compared. Paul says, I preach to you the true gospel. And I tell you, friend, I come to you with the true gospel message this morning. I come to you with the blood atoning of Jesus Christ that came to this world and he came to save the lost. No matter what rank of the person, no matter whatever his education is or how many certificates he may have or what his preaching style is like, if he speaks not according to this word, there is no light in them. That's the broad way. You think of how hard it is to find a Bible-believing church today. It's easy to find a compromising church. Very easy. Very easy to go to a place that preaches easy believism. Very easy. You got many to choose from. The Lord Jesus Christ, as He says, those that claim they're on the way to Zion, they decide to take a shortcut. But we thank God for His Word here this morning that the narrow path will surely lead to glory. Friend, I urge you to take that direction this morning. Don't leave this place on the broad way. The narrow path will surely lead to glory. Thank God for the second half, as when he goes in Luke's account in chapter 13, verse 24, he says, strive to enter in at the straight gate. And that word strive, it means to agonize. In the original, it means to work hard. It says to work hard on the narrow way. The very word itself was taken from the Grecian games and the races and wrestlings and whatever athletic exercises they had. They strove, it says, they strove, they agonized or put forth all their powers to gain the victory. Thousands witnessed them. They were long trained for the conflict that lied ahead of them. So our Lord Jesus Christ states, that we should strive to enter in. It's not easy believism. The Lord says to strive to enter in, lay hold of eternal life. It means that we should be active and earnest in our service for him. that we should make it our first priority to overcome our sinful acts and to work hard in along the narrow way. Christ goes on to say that for many, I say to you, will seek to enter in and shall not be able. Friend, God has a calendar. Time is running out. As time goes by very quickly, the Lord Jesus, He talks about God's calendar. That there's coming a day when He goes to say that in that day, many will seek to enter into heaven, but it's going to be too late! Many live in this life, neglect to the things of God. neglect to Christ himself. Many of those who are engaged and busy taking more care about things of this life rather than eternity. At death or at the judgment, they will seek to enter in, but it will be too late. The door will be shut. And because they did not make Christ here on earth their chief business, they shall not be able. Praise God, friends, for the gates of his mercy are still open today. Praise God that the gates of his mercy are still open today. Deal with your sin today. Repent and believe the gospel, and you too will be on that narrow way. Because there will be a time, as the Bible says, that it will be too late. The day of mercy will be extended and death will come. The doors of heaven barred against them. How important then is it to strive to enter in while you have the opportunity? The devil will say, come tomorrow, come tomorrow. But I tell you, if tomorrow doesn't come, where will you stand? The sun doesn't come up tomorrow, I ask you the question, what path will you be on in this life? As the Lord goes on to tell us in Matthew 7, verse 22, many will say to me in that day, there we say that word again, in that day, the day of judgment, when the doors of evangelism are shut. That is in the last day, the day of judgment, the time where all pretenders of the gospel shall be tried. both minister, missionary, giants of the faith, megachurches, whether they're congregations of tens of thousands or the ones and the twos. In that day, the Lord says, for they will say, Lord, Lord, we preached in your name. But they preached the broad way. They didn't preach the narrow way. And to conclude all things, So we come to conclude all things, which path are you on? Are you on the narrow way to glory or are you on the broad way of destruction? For I tell you it's better to be alone like Elijah and have the Lord with you and go against the crowd of the prophets of Baal. It's better to be like Moses and forsake the pleasures of Egypt. and to go on the narrow path. Better to be like Enoch, and to walk with God. Better to be like the Apostle Paul, that through affliction he was able to preach the grace of God. Many false teachers have we in our day, they teach of many pathways to heaven. But the Lord, he makes it very clear, only two ways you can go. Those who claim they're on the way to Zion, but decide to go another way. Danger and destruction awaits you, friend. If you leave this place on the broadway, danger and destruction awaits. As we come to show our introduction, live your best life now. Well, for the sinner, it is the best life now. Because the Bible talks about a life to come. That if you're not saved, this truly is your best life. But for the Christian, this is not the best life. This is the narrow way the Lord says to agonize, but the best life is to come, when the Lord says that you shall dine with me in paradise, as he told the thief on the cross. I tell you, it's very easy to die in sin. Because in this life, all you have to do is nothing. You see, it doesn't matter what denominational tag you may put on yourself. Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Brethren, Lutheran, Pentecostal. It all comes down to this. Enter ye in the straight gate. Sinner, heed the warning voice and make the Lord your final choice. Then all heaven We'll rejoice, be in time. Will you follow the Lord here this morning? We think of that great children's hymn, I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back, no turning back. Let us sing it. Let us sing and end with that great children's hymn, I have decided to follow Jesus. And I pray that will be your choice here this morning. Don't leave this place. And I pray even the Lord would visit you in mercy. The love of Jesus, the learning man, the learning man. The world behind me, the past before me. The world behind me, the past before me. The world behind me, the past before me. You're with me till I'm gone. You're with me till I'm gone. You'll never be gone. Never be gone. So we bow our heads in prayer. I leave it before you. You would make the Lord your final choice. Those elders will sit with you. They'll point to you the way. Friend, make the wise decision, I pray. Our gracious Heavenly Father, we pray once again that Thou would write these words upon our hearts. Lord, that we would understand what it is to walk the narrow path. Lord, we pray that Christ would be exalted here this morning. Lord, we point to Thee to do that great work of salvation. Lord, we pray if there is one here calling upon Thy name, We pray, O Lord, that Thou would visit them in mercy. They would repent of their sin and believe the gospel. Dismiss us in Thy blessing. We ask of all these things in Jesus' precious and holy name. Amen.