HIS WAY IS THE HIGH WAY

MT. 16:13-25, Isaiah 55:8-9

 

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE WAY OF CONFUSION [v. 13-21]

 

1. The World‘s Ignorance [v. 13-14, 1 Corinthians 2:14]

 

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

 

2. The Christian’s Confession [v. 15-16, Rm. 10:9]

 

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

 

3. The Father’s Revelation [v. 17-21, John 5:23]

 

That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

Hebrews 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

 

II. THE WAY OF CONVENIENCE [v. 22-23]

 

1. Christian’s Can Fall into Fleshly Pride [Proverbs 16:18]

 

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

 

2. Christian’s Can Give Heed to the Devil’s Doctrines [Gal., 1 Timothy 4:1]

 

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

 

3. Christian’s Can Fall Sway to the World’s Thinking [Colossians 2:8, 20]

 

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

 

III. THE WAY OF THE CROSS [v. 21-25]

 

1. Is The Way of Jesus [v. 21, 1 Peter 2:21] For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

 

2. It is the Way of Denial [v. 24]

 

3. It is the Way of Death to Self [v, 24b-25, Jn. 12:24-25]

 

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.