Seekers at the Gate

TEXT:  Luke 13:22-30

INTRODUCTION:

A.      MANY EXPECT TO GO TO HEAVEN WHO WILL NOT( Matt. 7:13-14 ).

B.      IN THIS LESSON WE WANT TO CONSIDER WHY SOME DON'T ENTER.

I. THEY DON'T STRIVE TO ENTER( Luke 13:24 ).

A.      GOODSPEED'S TRANS. "You must  strain every nerve..."

B.      PAUL'S EXAMPLE OF SACRIFICE HELPS TO UNDERSTAND( Phil. 3:7-14 ).

C.      THIS MEANS PUTTING GOD FIRST( Matt. 6:33;  Col. 3:1-2 ).

D.      "STRIVING" FOR THE LORD INVOLVES DIFFERENT THINGS:

          1.       We must; cease from sin( Rom. 6:1 ).

          2.       We must exercise seIf-controI( 1 Cor. 9:25-27 ).

          3.       must; abound in labor( 1 Cor. 15:58 ).

E.      OUR STRIVING MUST BE ACCORDING TO THE RULES( 2 Tim. 2:5 ).

F.      ARE YOU STRIVING?   NO ONE SAID IT WOULD BE EASY!

II.     THEY ARE NOT DILIGENT( Heb. 6:11-12 ).

A.      THE LORD DESIRES THAT WE ALL BEAR FRUIT( John 15:1-6 ).

B.      NOT ALL HAVE THE SAME RESPONSIBILITY( Rom. 12:4-8 ).

C.      WE ARE NOT EXPECTED TO DO WHAT WE CAN'T( 2 Cor. 8:12 ).

D.      SOMETIMES WE SELL OURSELVES SHORT( Phil.4:13 ).

III.    THEY DON'T DO( Matt. 7:21 ).

A.      IF I KNOW WHAT'S RIGHT, BUT REFUSE TO DO IT, WHAT HOPE IS

          THERE FOR ME?( James 4:17;  Heb. 10:26-27 ).

B.      THE FOOLISH MAN vs. THE WISE MAN( Matt. 7:24-27 ).

C.      HEARING WILL DO US NO GOOD UNLESS WE ACT!( James 1:22 ).

IV.   THEY PUT OFF( James 4:13-14 ).

A.      WE DON'T KNOW WHEN WE WILL DIE OR WHEN JESUS WILL COME

          ( 2 Pet. 3:10 ).

B.      THE WISE MAN SAID THIS( Ecc. 11:9-12:1 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      ARE YOU STRIVING TO ENTER( Matt 7:21 ).

B.      WHAT IS THE FATHER'S WILL?