Press Into The Kigdom

Pressing into the Kingdom of God Luke 16:16

This year I felt very much God put a word on my heart for us a body of people. A word that affects us all and not just those we think it should apply to. And it is this – Press in to the Kingdom of God.

God wants us to go deeper this year than what we did last year. He wants us to press in to it, be seized by it, clothe ourselves in and use force to get there.

Lu 16:16 "The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.

and in Matthew

Mt 11:12 "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.

It is the same Greek word for taking siege to a city.

Biazo

to force,

i.e. (reflexively) to crowd oneself (into),

or (passively) to be seized:--

press,

suffer violence.

Pressing into the kingdom of heaven requires a determination, a firmness of resolution

.

There should be strength of resolution, accompanying strength of desire, as it was in the psalmist

Ps 27:4 One thing have I desired (beg borrow demand) of the LORD, that will I seek after (search out, strive after); that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire (break forth) in his temple.

Need a bit more breaking forth. If you have felt crushed at all last year break forth this year. Recognise that there is a freedom that comes with the Kingdom of God, think of David as he danced for God ignoring everybody else, with his only desire to please and worship God.

Each one of us as God’s people has a desire for spiritual things, we have a desire to please God and serve Him. We must do all that is within our power, as much as it depends upon our strength, attending to every duty, resisting all manner of sin, and continue in pursuit of the KINGDOM of GOD.

We must understand its necessity, and the opportunity that is before us, and realise that we are encouraged to seek it.

Mt 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,

The strength of resolution depends on our heart and the revelation God has given on the importance of such a thing.

Has to be a resolution of heart and not lip service. Deceive ourselves if it is words only.

The firmness of our resolution to enter into the things of the kingdom depends on our attitude of heart and outlook of faith. This requires a stability of heart and desire, too many of us are hot one minute and blowing cold the next. We must fix our faces like flint and determine that we will no matter what gain the kingdom of God.

Determine within our hearts and resolve to give God ground. Press into holiness. Stop determining what God can or can’t do with you. Stop determining what God can or can’t have. Stop determining what God can or can’t touch. Determine that God can do what he wants with you, what he can have of you or yours, what he can touch.

Press in and give him 100%

Pres in to tithing

Press into prayer

Press in to Bible study

Press in to fellowship

Press into worship

Ec 9:10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might;

Where there is strength of desire, and firmness of resolution, there will be activity. Christians engaged in their hearts will "strive to enter in at the narrow gate," and will be violent for heaven; their practice will be agreeable to the counsel of the wise man, in Proverbs 2 at the beginning,

Pr 2:1 My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you

2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding;

3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding,

4 If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures;

5 Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, And find the knowledge of God.

Here the earnestness of desire and strength of resolution is signified by inclining the ear to wisdom, and applying the heart to understanding; and the greatness of endeavor is denoted by crying after knowledge, and lifting up the voice for understanding; seeking her as silver, and searching for her as for hid treasures: such desires and resolutions, and such endeavors go together.

Don’t be distracted with little things that occupy the mind and thoughts. If we allow ourselves to fight the wrong battle then we will only do violence against ourselves and those around us.