TAKE THIS EXIT

Picture your life on a five-lane highway (the broad way) on which God has set up road blocks and provided exits to lead you to heaven (the narrow way).

Matthew 7:13,14 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. Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

EXIT ONE: John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Take this exit.

EXIT TWO: Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Sin is in your life on the broad road. Spiritually, you are dead. God's gift is eternal life. Take this exit.

EXIT THREE: The Word of God is a GPS leading you in the right direction. Take this exit.

EXIT FOUR: God's church invites you to receive Christ through prayers and preaching. Take this exit.

EXIT FIVE: The Holy Spirit tugs at your heart, convicts you of sin, and beckons you to accept Jesus. Take this exit.

The broad road leads to destruction.

WHERE IS WISDOM?

Job 28 is one of the most beautiful poems in the Bible about wisdom. I summarized it here, but admonish you to read the chapter.

There is a path which no fowl knows, the vulture's eye has not seen, and the fierce lion passes by.

God put forth His hand upon the rock and overturned the mountains by roots, cut out rivers, His eye seeing every precious thing.

But where is wisdom found, and where is the place of understanding? It is not in the sea. It can't be bought with precious onyx or sapphire. It's price is above rubies or pure gold.

God knows. He looks to the ends of the earth and sees under the whole heaven. He weighs the winds and waters. When He made a decree for the rain and a way for the lightening of the thunder, then He saw it, declared it, prepared it, and searched it out.

Job 28:28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of The Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

God is an awesome God -- all knowing, ever present, unlimited power, holy, and full of grace, love, and glory.

Fearing God is reverencing Him for who He is.

DECISIONS DECISIONS

What to do when we get out of school? Where to live? Who to marry? Where to go to church? What to have for supper? We want instant answers.

God has given every Christian the resources to make good decisions. Here are some decision-making principles:

Psalm 119:106 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat or drink or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdome of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.

Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes; but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

When making decisions, talk to God, listen to Him, and believe as you wait for His answer. Make God your priority and everything else will fall into place.

Good or bad, you live with your decisions.

LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

What a privilege it is as a Christian to be led by the Holy Spirit. As we grow spiritually, we develop the ability to discern the voice of the Spirit of God.

Romans 8;14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

The Holy Spirit leads us through our prayer life, through our time in the Scriptures, through teaching and preaching, through the voices of people, and through circumstances, situations, and experiences.

Three ways to "try the Spirits" or put it to the test:

1. The voice of the Holy Spirit will be consistent with the message at God's Holy Word.
2. It will be consistent with His fruit (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance).
3. The voice of the Holy Spirit will be consistent with the Character of Jesus Christ -- His spirit of love, humility, meekness, service, obedience, submission and forgiveness.

We must constantly be aware and sensitive to the leading of God's Holy Spirit.

THE TRIAL OF YOUR FAITH

Unless we have the Spirit of the Living God within us, we will be defeated by the trials of life. You and I, with our natural abilities and our own strength, are no match for the problems we will face. We must have faith and trust in God.

Are you trusting your job, college degree, savings account, investments, pensions, health or intellect instead of God? God is the only source we can trust.

1 Peter 1:6,7  Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations;

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found into praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.

Sometimes God has to unsettle us to reveal sin in our lives or for us to grow in grace. We grow more in grace in the valley than on the mountain top.

THOUGH GOD SLAY ME YET I'LL TRUST HIM

Lest you think life couldn't get any worse, consider this man.

1. His great riches and glory were stripped from him.
2. His kinsfolk, friends, and brethren forgot him
3. Even the servants in his house and his wife ignored him -- treating him like a stranger
4. Young children dispised and mocked him
5. His best friends abhorred him, even those he loved, unjustly judging him for his sins.
6. His bones cleaved to his skin as he begged for pity
7. He can't understand why his loving God would persecute him.

Through it all, this pitiful man never lost the faith.

Job 19:25-27 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth;

And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God;

Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

Growing up, I remember the Lawson Family singing a song about Job in my church.

Though God slay me yet I'll trust Him

And I'll then come forth as gold

For I know that He still liveth

I can feel Him in my soul