Bondman

Understanding the New Testament!!

Message #72

SCRIPTURE (7) - Matthew 7:13-15


Those who are studying the New Testament and KNOW the Scriptures have TWO MAJOR PLUSSES: 1. They are able to assure themselves that they truly belong to God and are heaven-bound. 2. They can tell others the same truths, to help THEM to also become heaven-bound! This is SO important to be able to share with the many church-goers who may call themselves Christian, but really aren't - and so, tragically, are hell-bound often WITHOUT KNOWING IT! *heart-breaking!*

Matthew 7
13 Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it.

Jesus is saying that for every person on the planet there's a choice of just TWO WAYS to go: through the narrow gate, or through the wide gate. The wide gate is NOT the way you want! It's a wide and easy way - but it leads to destruction! (hell). WARNING #1: Most people are on this way!! WARNING #2: Everyone on earth is on this way UNLESS and UNTIL they choose to look for, and find, and ENTER and LIVE OUT the narrow and hard way!

14 But the gate is narrow (contracted by pressure) and the way is narrow and hard that leads to life, and few are those who find it.

Clearly THE NARROW GATE is the one you want! I didn't say this, JESUS DID! Ensure you find it, then go through it! Being the exact opposite to the wide and easy way, THIS way will be narrow and hard for you - BUT while the other way leads to hell, this is the one that leads to Life with a capital "L" - with God forever!!! VERY SERIOUS WARNING: it's only a very FEW people who actually find this way!!! I didn't say this either, JESUS DID!

15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you dressed as sheep, but inside they are devouring wolves.

Finally, there are numbers of false teachers, preachers and churches around, who pretend to be sheep - and do you no harm - but actually are the exact OPPOSITE! What they say may sound right, and what they do may look right, BUT THEY ARE NOT! They can EASILY lead YOU and MANY OTHERS along the BROAD WAY TO HELL and DESTRUCTION. BEWARE of trusting THEM!!

There is a way to tell the sheep from the devouring wolves, which we'll look at soon... Till then!

- BM, with his Love

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Bondman

Here I is again *sigh* - sittin' all alone in the Room here... *wonders if Mark's around?*


(Actually I know I'm not alone. And I just can't BELIEVE that I've not used one of my most favourite words here, like I have on all other forums I've been on: I know that there are lots of people lurking here!!! Doncha just love that word! *I can see you lurking over in the corner there, hee!*)

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SweetSurrender

I'm here, Bondman! I've been "slinking" around in London. Being pulled from one place to another when I just want to sit somewhere and read. We have been having a good time however. It's just that my heart is elsewhere.

I am supposed to meet Jax tomorrow (Wed) at Victoria Station in London. I can't wait to talk with her. She only has from 11am to 1:45, so it won't be as long as I had wished, but at least I will be able to hug her and become more familiar with her.

Violet and Sylvanus cannot be reached to make plans. And Housesitter's wife was in the hospital and so they need prayer. But, so far, Jax has hung in there to make my wish come true. I do hope to meet you and the Mrs. next year around this time. Or maybe it should be sooner than that because of weather. My goal is to travel around meeting anyone who is willing. Is that a "no, no?" Would that be intruding on other's privacy? I everyone in the U.S. should meet at some point. Well, at least we should all be able to have a reunion in Heaven, right?

I will have more time when I return to the Statess to communicate more. Hope you are really feeling better, BM and the Mrs. also. Let us know. Bonnie

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"A man with an experience is never at the mercy of a man with an argument."

Bondman

"Slinking around", huh! Well I'm not quite sure how that compares to "lurking", lol! All that you're doing over there sounds interesting, and I do hope your meet-ups go well.

As for meeting people round the world that you asked about, by the standards of Western Christianity that would be quite normal. But in order to figure if it's really okay by the Lord, you'd have to consider and measure it in the light of the billions of people in the world who are starving, by a comparison of our rich life-style with their chronic poverty, and finally by a consideration of best use of money in the respect of eternal issues. My answer to this would be quite clear, but in the IR am I never in the business of telling anyone else how they should manage their personal lives - this being between them and the Lord.

We're actually feeling a little bit better, hon! - which is not something we get to say very often in our lives, so it's rather nice to actually speak it! Doesn't mean that life with our ill-health is really any different, just managing a tad better than we were. Only miracle healing by the Lord can fix the relatively serious and very wide-spread health issues of us both, and that's something I'm still believing God for!

Love ya heaps!

- BM

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gbemiga

Thanks for your faith. God never disappoint people that have faith in Him.

gbemiga

thanks for your faith. God has never disappoint people that have faith in Him.Surly, He will answer you at His own right time.

Mark_18

You know you'll see that silver lining soon enough. That hope that you so desperately need. Take your mind off of time and know that His will is already done for you. Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS.

We go through cycles. Up, down, up, down, up, down... In your down times, no matter how real and painful they are, know that they are only temporary. Seek what is good. Don't hurt others while your down. Bring hope to others out of love. Your hope will come. Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS.

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Luke 15:31 - And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.

JOKE POLICE

SweetSurrender

Oh, I's sooooo glad to hear you and the Mrs. are feeling better, BM!
God is good isn't He? I've been into the Word at the end of our day and am feeling emotionally better also.

About traveling, Norm is the one who has always loved to travel and he is retired Navy so we can fly free on military flights anywhere in the world. And the lodging is on the base, so it is only about $28/day. Here in England, it is $42/day because the Euro is involved. What costs us $10 in U.S. money, costs us $20 here in the U.K. So, this trip is a little more expensive. Twice as much to be exact. I have suggested making a trip to a third-world country sometime to do some volunteering in a hospital or an orphanage sometime. I would love to do that, but he has to get a heart for that. I have to fly with him. I cannot fly free on my own.

But, just think, if we could transport Bibles or something to someone in need, how much of a blessing we could be to someone.

Of course there has to be a military base there that our planes fly to and then we are only allowed 70 pounds of luggage for each of us for the bigger planes like DC17s and only 30 pounds ea. on the smaller planes. But I'm sure there is something we could do if we knew what it would be. This is only our second trip and my only other big desire is to visit Australia some time. But, as far as I'm concerned, I'd love to fly to Louisiana where Katrina hit and help on a housing project or anywhere for a while.

If I didn't still have to work, or when I don't have to work anymore, that's what I'd like to do. What we do in this world should count for something or for someone. We are so lucky to have these benefits and I'd like to use them to benefit others.

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"A man with an experience is never at the mercy of a man with an argument."

Fluffy

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Be transparent before God, He sees right thru you, anyway!
http://www.likepreciousfaith.org/testimony_val.htm
Please pray for your local emergency responders, daily.

Bondman

WOW, IT'S OUR FLUFFY!!!!

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