Today’s Devotional – December 30th (How Narrow Is The Narrow Gate?)

By admin On December 29th, 2013

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December 30th Devotional

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How Narrow is the Narrow-Gate?

The following devotion is made of excerpts from the article…“Revelation 12 Woman & The Narrow Gate Stars (Orion’s Gate to Heaven)”

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The Strait Gate is the Narrow Way and the broad way is the Wide Gate

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“Enter ye 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 thereat:

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way,

which leads unto life,

and few there be that find it.”

Matthew 7:13, 14

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The above words, spoken by Jesus, are an admonition to everyone who says of his or her own self, “I’m a Christian”.

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Yes, the above Bible passage proclaims a most high and holy calling! This above invitation reveals that the door which leads to Heaven is much narrower than many now suppose! Yes, this above warning narrows our conception of just how much of this world can be brought within the confines of God’s kingdom. Not much.

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There are many ministries which proudly proclaim the mantra, “The Narrow Way”. Now some of these may truly teach the Narrow Way. But, no doubt, many of these do not fully understand just how narrow is the Narrow Way.

 Audience hands – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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JESUS IS THAT NARROW WAYhttp://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_White_Cross_Vukovar_Croatia.jpg

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Jesus told His Disciples, “I am the Way…” John 14:6. When His disciples began to follow Jesus, Scripture states, “and they forsook all and followed Him” Luke 5:11.

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Now God is not necessarily calling for Christians to sell all their belongings.

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But when the True Worshiper receives the Spirit of Christ, at that point, he or she begins to lose interest in the amusements, and attainments, and attractions of the world.

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The White Cross Vukovar Croatia – cropped image – wikimedia share-alike license

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HEAVENLY VIRTUES

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Silently and imperceptibly (via the transforming power of the indwelling Holy Spirit), the Believer gradually begins to desire the attractions, attainments, and aspirations of Heaven: the wisdom & knowledge, the agape love, and purity, and patience, the meditation on Scripture, the prayer & praise, and self-sacrificing brotherly-love, gentleness, graciousness, etc….

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And it’s just like that popular old song says, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of this world, will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace!”

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Yes, when we finally have our eyes fully fixed upon Christ’s face, the things of this world, and all our possessions and attainments will begin to lose their grip on us.

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Prayer – USMC – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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BUT HOW NARROW IS THE NARROW GATE?

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But back to the Narrow Gate. We still haven’t answered this question…

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Just how narrow is it?

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Simply put, the Narrow Gate is only as narrow as Jesus. In other words, we must ultimately die-to-self. Self-will just cannot squeeze through that Door. Only selfless Jesus fits through that Door. And as the Christian fully dies-to-self, he or she will be able to say with Paul… “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me” Galatians 2:20.

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“AS MANY AS…BAPTIZED…HAVE PUT ON CHRIST”

Galatians 3:27

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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USMC-06831.jpgTherefore, it is only by putting on Jesus, that we can ever have hope of entering in. 

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And, as this testimonial by the Apostle, Paul proclaims, death-to-self will provide the perfect medium through which Jesus can live out His life through us.

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And yes, yes, Salvation is by grace alone!

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But the evidence of true grace, is a transformed life… “Old things are passed away, behold, all things are made new.”(2nd Corinthians 5:17) This new life is the Gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit!

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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OTHER THINGS HAVE CREPT IN

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mall_culture_jakarta75.jpg

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But unfortunately, there are many things which have somehow found their way into today’s Christian culture.

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And we need to also purge out those things from our religion, if we ever hope to present Christ to this on-looking world: such things as circus acts, comedians, psychiatry-psychology, non-biblical-theological-jargon, entertainments, dramas, gambling, supporting abortions, amusements, energy-sapping-careers, materialism, games, sports, ethnicity, non-biblical-traditions, acronymed programs, extra-biblical ceremonies, etc…

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Yes, these things (and more) belong to this present world, but they have no place in God’s kingdom. Let’s leave them out there in the world where they belong!

Oh yes, in our everyday life we may “use this world” but never be guilty of “abusing it”. 1st Corinthians 7:31

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Mall_Market culture_jakarta75-wikimedia-share-alike-lic..jpg

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LIKENESS OF JESUS: OUR WITNESS

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The world is waiting to see Jesus in us.

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Any thing that confuses or obscures Jesus, must be considered for the proverbial trash-heap.

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If ever there was a time for even a few of the best of these worldly things to be mingled into Christianity, that time is all but gone.

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And now, as the final act begins, only those willing to cast away such things, for the sake of becoming perfected in Christ, before the onlooking world, will be used by God. (see Judges Ch. 7).

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Remember how Jesus called His Disciples to, “Come and follow Me”?

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Yes, those men were willing to give all this world up, in order to follow Jesus (“…they forsook all & followed Him” Luke 5:11).

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Garbage – Hollygrove1 TV Typewriter CurbTrash – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike license

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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Teachings_of_Jesus_38_of_40._the_rapture._one_in_the_field._Jan_Luyken_etching._Bowyer_Bible.gifGOD GIVES US THE VICTORY

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The Good News is, that God makes the following promise, “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” Philippians 1:6

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Yes, it is God Himself who promises to remove any objectionable possession that we may have, so that we can finally hear Jesus say to us…“Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things…enter thou into the joy of thy lord!” Matthew 25:23  

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Second Coming – Return – Resurrection Morning – Jan Luyken – Bible – Wikipedia – US Public Domain (2)

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

Give me the desire to walk up that heavenly pathway. Let me not be deceived by my own selfishness, and take the broad way that leads to destruction…

Prayer – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book_magnify2.svgREAD MORE…

To read this full article, just click here… “Revelation 12 Woman & The Narrow Gate Stars (Orion’s Gate to Heaven)”, or you may also read…September 11th (The Narrow Gate Stars)

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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THE END

.Soldiers of the Cross - Armor-Up!

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

 

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NARROW GATE STARS LOCATION

foursome late winter 8/29/11

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This most amazing phenomenon is seen throughout the winter. Although it can be observed most of the winter, it is seen best when it is the western part of the sky, at winter’s end (The end of winter being the final scene of this heavenly Gospel story). Orion , the Dragon, and the Glorious White Horse are beginning to descend into the western horizon (sketch to right is Winter Constellations descending into western horizon. This can actually be seen as early as December, in the pre-dawn hours).

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And at this point it is apparent that the Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation is veering toward the two bright stars, known as Castor and Pollux (sketch to left). But the Wide Gate Stars are composed of the two brightest stars of the Auriga Constellation, known as the star, Capella, and the star, Menkalinan. The two stars, Castor and Pollux, make up the concept of the Orion’s Narrow Gate Stars.

Revelation 12 Woman & Orion's Gate & Wide Gate.

This can even be observed into June in the western sky (for a short time just after dark). While a dark night is best for seeing the Woman Constellation, the 4 stars which comprise the Narrow Gate/Wide Gate Stars can be seen even under mediocre conditions. It begins with the Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation (AKA Ursa Major) going towards these two doors.

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The sketch to left shows, the two doors are each composed of two bright stars. The two bright stars that comprise the Narrow Gate are the two brightest stars of the Orion the Reaper’s sickle. The two stars that comprise the ‘Wide Gate’ Stars are the two brightest stars of the wave of water that comes out of the Dragon Constellation’s mouth (for explanation of “Wave of Water”, just click here). The stars that make up the ‘Narrow Gate’ are about half the width of the Wide Gate (see sketch below left).

Revelation 12 Woman chooses Narrow Way

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(For more information on Orion’s sickle, just click here, “Orion The Reaper”.)

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Editor’s note: These sketches on this page are merely sketches. The stars are not in their exact place. However, they are close enough to find them in the night sky. But as with most stars, it takes persistence to finally locate them.

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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Family_Portrait.jpg

TOMORROW:

“December 31st (The Eternity Game!)”

Family Portrait – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY

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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL. 

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THIS IS STUDY #362 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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THIS IS STUDY #363 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain

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Click on image credit links below each photo, for licensing names, details, and tags, etc.. Most Images cropped & reduced in size.

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