Things We Wish Jesus Never Said | Week 3 | Pastor Ben Pierce
Things We Wish Jesus Never Said: A Tale of Two Gates
Welcome to a deep dive into a powerful message shared by Pastor Ben Pierce of Generation Church FL, located in Jupiter, FL. This article explores a challenging but crucial passage of scripture from Matthew 7, where Jesus speaks about the narrow and wide gates, false prophets, and the true nature of discipleship. If you’ve ever wondered about the direction of your spiritual journey or felt the tension between religion and a vibrant relationship with God, this reflection is for you.
Christianity is unique among world religions because it is rooted in a relationship rather than a set of rules or religious systems. Pastor Ben unpacks these challenging words that Jesus spoke to help us evaluate our spiritual path and encourage us to walk a life marked by faith, obedience, and genuine transformation.
Understanding the Context: The Sermon on the Mount’s Final Words
Jesus’ teaching on the narrow and wide gates appears after the Sermon on the Mount, His first major public sermon. This sermon laid out foundational truths about living in God’s kingdom, and this passage serves as a powerful conclusion emphasizing the importance of building our lives on a solid foundation.
Jesus contrasts two gates and two roads:
- The Wide Gate and Broad Road: Easy to enter, crowded, and leading to destruction.
- The Narrow Gate and Road: Difficult to find and enter, less travelled, but leading to life.
This metaphor invites us to evaluate our spiritual journey. Are we following the easy path that leads away from God, or are we dedicated to the harder, less popular path that leads to eternal life?
Religion vs Relationship: The Heart of Christianity
One of the key themes Pastor Ben highlights is the difference between religion and relationship. It’s tempting to fall into a “religious rut” where Christianity becomes a checklist of actions like attending church, reading the Bible, or performing religious duties, rather than a vibrant, dynamic relationship with Jesus.
Christianity is distinct because it is not about what we do to earn God’s favour but about what God has done for us through Jesus Christ. Salvation is a gift, freely given because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, not something we earn through works.
“Christianity is a gift that you receive. Salvation is a gift that you receive. Your father in heaven paid the price through the death of his son for you.”
This gift calls for a response a life that reflects gratitude through obedience and good fruit, but it’s important to remember that the foundation of salvation is God’s grace, not human effort.
The Four Tests of Authentic Faith: Navigating the Two Gates
Pastor Ben offers four practical tests to help us discern whether we are walking the narrow road or the broad road. These tests challenge us to reflect deeply on our spiritual lives and commitments.
1. Deny Your Earthly Desires
Jesus commands us to “Enter through the narrow gate.” This is a call to make a conscious decision to deny worldly desires and follow God’s will. It’s not about giving up joy or blessings but about prioritizing God above all else.
Many people struggle with balancing earthly desires and spiritual devotion. The broad gate represents a life of self-indulgence, compromise, and conformity to the world’s standards, while the narrow gate requires sacrifice, discipline, and a reversal of priorities.
Pastor Ben shares a relatable example of the friction believers might feel waking up tired yet choosing to spend time with God anyway, illustrating that the narrow path is marked by daily choices to deny self for the sake of a deeper relationship with Christ.
“If you are not feeling friction as a follower of Jesus, you probably are doing it wrong.”
God desires us to enjoy life abundantly (John 10:10), but He calls us to seek Him first (Matthew 6:33), trusting that when we do, He will provide for our needs. Prioritizing God leads us through the narrow gate, while neglecting Him puts us on the broad road.
2. Your Daily Decisions Determine Your Destination
The two roads we walk on are shaped by the decisions we make every day. The broad road is crowded because it’s comfortable, convenient, and requires little commitment or discipline. In contrast, the narrow road demands perseverance, sacrifice, and faith.
True discipleship involves daily choices that align with God’s will. This includes spending time in prayer, reading scripture, serving others, giving generously, and sharing our faith. These are the basics of a life of faith, not flashy miracles or extraordinary spiritual feats, but consistent obedience.
Pastor Ben warns against legalism but encourages a heart-driven desire to seek God daily, not out of obligation but out of love and passion for the relationship.
“Without faith, it is impossible to please God.” (Hebrews 11:6)
Faith means stepping into the unknown, trusting God even when there is no visible proof that our actions will bear fruit. Are you taking those daily steps that keep you on the narrow road?
3. Discern the Influences in Your Life
Jesus warns us to watch out for false prophets and teaches that we will recognize people by their fruit. Pastor Ben explains that true character and spiritual health are revealed by the fruit we produce, the results of our lives, and the influences on others.
Good fruit includes transformed lives, acts of service, baptisms, discipleship, and genuine spiritual growth. Bad fruit manifests as hypocrisy, corruption, and empty religion.
It’s easy to be deceived by appearances or charismatic leaders, but the true test is the fruit that is evident over time. Are you producing good fruit? Are the people and influences in your life leading you closer to God or away?
“A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.”
Pastor Ben also cautions about the dangers of modern influencers who criticize the local church without bearing real fruit themselves. The local church, when functioning rightly, is a place where real lives are changed and good fruit is produced.
4. Relationship, Not Religion, Determines Your Final Destination
The most sobering part of Jesus’ teaching is that not everyone who calls Him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus says, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers.” This challenges the misconception that verbal confession or religious works alone guarantee salvation.
True salvation is marked by a personal relationship with Jesus, being known by Him, and doing the will of the Father. It’s not enough to perform religious acts or claim the name of Christ; our hearts must be aligned with God’s will.
Pastor Ben shares a vulnerable moment from his own prayer time, reminding us that God’s grace covers our imperfections and that He desires intimacy, not perfection.
“Is my relationship with Jesus real or is it just religious?”
This question demands honest self-examination. Are we merely going through the motions, or are we deeply connected to Jesus in a personal and transformative way?
Making the Choice: Enter Through the Narrow Gate
Drawing inspiration from Joshua 24:15, “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord,” Pastor Ben calls us to make a decisive commitment to follow Jesus through the narrow gate. This decision requires denying earthly desires and prioritizing our eternal destiny.
If you have never taken this step, today is the perfect time to choose life and enter the narrow gate. For those already on the journey, it’s an invitation to examine your walk and realign with the narrow path if you have drifted.
Remember, salvation is a gift that cannot be earned, but it is proven by the fruit of a changed life. The ultimate mission is not to build our kingdom but to build God’s kingdom by bringing others with us to eternal life.
Reflection and Action: Four Tests to Evaluate Your Walk
- Which gate are you entering? Have you chosen the narrow gate, denying worldly desires?
- What road are you walking on daily? Are your daily decisions reflecting faith and obedience?
- What kind of fruit are you bearing? Is your life producing good spiritual fruit?
- Are you living out God’s will or just giving lip service? Do you have a genuine relationship with Jesus?
Take time this week to answer these questions honestly. Seek God’s guidance on areas needing correction and commit to growing in your relationship with Him.
Conclusion: The Invitation to Choose Life and Follow Jesus
Whatever challenge or conviction you feel today, don’t delay in responding. The narrow gate may be difficult and countercultural, but it leads to true life and eternal joy. The wide gate might seem easier, but it leads to destruction and separation from God.
For those who have not yet made a personal commitment to Jesus, this is your moment to choose life. Pray with sincerity and invite Jesus into your heart, trusting in His sacrifice and grace.
Father God, I want to know you intimately and personally. Would you come into my heart? Make your home in my heart. Lord God, Jesus, thank you that you hung on the cross. You willingly gave your life. You died in my place. You took my sin upon your shoulders so that I wouldn’t have to die for it. And for that, I say thank you. I’m so grateful, Jesus. I surrender my life to you, God. Thank you for forgiving me. And because I’ve been forgiven, I’m going to live differently. I’m going to live passionately. I’m going to live not as a resident of planet Earth, but as a sojourner, as an ambassador from heaven to this place, because my true home is not here. It is in heaven. I pray these words today, God, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
May you walk boldly through the narrow gate, bearing good fruit, living out your faith with passion and perseverance, and knowing God intimately every step of the way.
Thank you for journeying through this message with us. Remember, the best is yet to come!