Sermon Central
-
Oop's! Theres A Fork In The Road!
Contributed by Kenneth Burisek on Feb 5, 2005 (message contributor)
Summary: Narrow way/Broad way---Comparing two Old Testament men of God Joseph and David who came to the same fork in the road with a decision to make. I use a lot of Country/Western lingo as we are a country style church.
Oops !!! There’s a fork in the road !!! Matthew 7:13-14
*
7:13 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:
*
7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
*
These two Bible verses actually are kinda road maps ta help us find the right trail in life !!!
*
At first the trails are kinda merged together and we make choices as we go along as to which direction we go---we come upon a fork in the road !!!
*
We can take the broad road---which is the world’s way---the road on which much of the human race is travelling---or we can choose the narrow way which the bible says---few there be that find it !!!
*
The broad way has very few additional forks and detours cause Satan already has these folks where he wants em !!!
*
Those choosing the narrow road on the other hand can expect that the Devil will make sure thars plenty-a detours, obstacles, and forks in the road to try n’ draw them away from God !!!
*
Matthew 3: 19 tells us that mankind loves the darkness rather than the light because their deeds are evil !!!
*
Lets suppose we decide to take our car out on the road in the middle of the night---it’s one-a those nights when thar ain’t no stars and thar ain’t no moonlight---the kind-a night horror movies are created !!!
*
Not only do you take your car out on the road---but none-a yer lights are workin---yer drivin in total---absolute---pitch-black darkness !!!
*
What’s gonna happen under them thar conditions ???
*
Yer more than likely gonna end up drivin off the road and hit somethin or wind up in the ditch.
*
Now lets imagine that thars another car drivin in front of us with it’s lights on---heading down the trail !!!
*
If we just carefully follow that light---we should be able to drive that car down the road cause someone is guidin our way through the darkness !!!
*
In John 8: 12 Jesus says---I am the light of the world---he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness---but shall have the light of life !!!
*
God’s word is also our guide---Psalms 119: 105 says---Thy word is a lamp unto my feet---and a light unto my path !!!
*
Jesus and God’s word will guide us to the narrow gate---but we have to be willin ta foller Him !!! Amen !!!
*
Lets say we decided to become Christians and we’re follerin Jesus up the narrow trail when all of a sudden ya come upon all these detour signs and a fork in the road !!!
*
The confusin part is that the signs fer both trails say------ "Heaven---that-a-way"---cause the devil always tries ta trick ya inta believin you can always have it both ways !!!
*
*
A lotta folks take the wrong trail fer a spell---some stay on the wrong trail and get drawn away from God---others realize thar mistake n’ head back to that fork in the road and get back on the right track !!!
*
God gave the human race a thing called "Free-Will" so we all have the choice as to which path we decide ta foller in life !!!
*
Today we’re gonna talk about two men from the Old Testament---Joseph and David---who both came to a critical fork in the road of life !!!
*
Both men are faced with a sin called "LUST"---especially the temptation to indulge in sexual pleasure outside of marriage !!!
*
Both Joseph and David loved the Lord with all their hearts---but when tempation came along---their reactions were quite remakably different !!!
*
Genesis 39: 7-20 shares the story of how Joseph handled sexual temptation !!!
*
7: And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.
8: But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;
9: There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
*
10: And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.
11: And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.