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.
The apostle tells us,
I Corinthians 9:26. "that he did not fight as those that beat the air." Our time is short enough; if it does not fulfil the purposes of God should we be engaged in it? I will leave that question open. We face enough difficulties and enemies, which takes strength and time without shadow boxing.
By pressing into the kingdom of God is denoted a breaking through opposition and difficulties.
Pressing in and gaining the kingdom is not an easy road to go down. If there were no opposition, but the way was all clear and open, there would be no need to press in. If we say that we are the ones pressing in to possess the kingdom then our very activity would break through the difficulties that are in the way. When anything is presented to us to be done, the question should not be, Is it easy or hard? Is it agreeable to my carnal nature (my selfish flesh nature)? The apostle Paul in Phillipians 3:4-12 Says:
Php 3:12 Not that I did already obtain, or have been already perfected; but I pursue, if also I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by the Christ Jesus;
Against the grain.
What happens when something gets in the way that goes against the grain, that gets us down or stops us in our tracks in pursuing the things of God? What if it affects our business, our bank account, our friends, our social activities? What if it makes you look a fool or makes you look a little odd in front of others?
When we press into the kingdom of God, we quite often find many things in the way that are against the grain; but let us not be stopped by the cross that lies before us, but take it up, and carry it.
Everything that is found to be a weight that hinders you from running this race must be cast down at the foot of the cross. Some people never get passed certain trials and temptations, don’t be one of them, rise above it, press in deeper and deeper until you lay hold of Christ in that situation. Until you lay hold of the kingdom of God.
Time to stop all those long conversations in your head. The shall I or shant I conversations. The conversations that weigh the cost as too costly. The conversations that find and entertain the excuses. Be done with that and press in. press violently through all these things. Sometimes you have to do violence to yourself. It hurts sometimes to do the right thing. To follow God when everything is crying out to go the other way.
The devil is often whispering in the ear, setting traps to allure us away from pressing in, lying words that magnify the difficulties, telling us that they are insurmountable and that we can never conquer them, and trying all ways in the world to discourage us; but still we must press in and allow ourselves to be seized by the kingdom of God.
If we struggle then look to God, it is He who gives us the Holy Spirit. The devil cannot stop God the Holy Spirit in his course. Jesus WILL build His church, The Holy Spirit will bring us from glory to glory. God will complete what He has started in us. God WILL honour His word. God will fulfil His purposes and promises.
2Ti 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Our day is limited.
Ac 17:26 "And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,
God has set our boundaries, and for now that is here. He has set our time and for now it is today. We do not know how soon we he shall come again or call us home. Then there shall be no work, there shall be no more pressing in, no more Bible study and prayer, no more trial or tribulation, no more whisperings from the devil, no more tiredness and heart ache - therefore we should do what we have to do now with our might, Ecclesiastes 9:10.
Ec 9:10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might;
This coming year determine to sacrifice everything for the sake of laying hold of the Kingdom of God. Let seeking this be so much your ambition, Let nothing stand before your resolution of seeking the kingdom of God.
Forget what is behind. Move on from thinking and making much of what you have done, but let your mind be wholly intent on what you have to do. Do not spend your time in looking back on what is past, but look forward, and consider what is before you; consider what it is that you can do, and what it is necessary that you should do, and what God calls you still to do.
2006 may have had its troubles and joys but leave them there. 2007 is a new year a new opportunity. Forgive those who you need to forgive. Let go of those offences and hurts that you need to let go of. Rejoice in those things that are a blessing but don’t survive on them this coming year.
This year
Pastors, Elders press in deeper, be seized by the kingdom in a new and dynamic way so that we can take the people into new and wonderful places in God.
Worship leaders press in to new territory in worship, we touched something new when we did the prophetic weekend, press in more and more yourselves so that you may lead us into deeper depths of worship. As you know what songs we sing is immaterial when are hearts are lifted to new heights in the Spirit. Take us there this year. Let this be your determination
Sunday school leaders. The kids are just waiting for you to take hold and be seized by the kingdom of God in a greater way so that you might show them newer and deeper truths in a way that they understand. I want to encourage you to gain more from God so that you can give more away, invest in a deeper way in the kingdom of God so that the lives of these young people will benefit.
TO ALL of us here as a part of this congregation. Press in to the kingdom, be seized by the kingdom, take it by force, don’t let anything stop you, hinder you or deter you. God is waiting for you to get serious about this. He has been waiting for you to have such a determination of heart about the things of God that he will be so blessed when you take the bull by the horns so to speak and go deeper and deeper into the kingdom
How? through determined effort, through determined study of the word, by determined prayer, through a resolution of heart and mind that will settle for nothing less than laying hold of God himself. By dealing with sin without remorse or affection.
This year is a year where God wants us to press in, to be seized by and to forcibly lay hold of the kingdom.
Why?
So that the person who is sitting next to you will be blessed because you are blessed. Because God has many people in this town and he is waiting for us for His people to storm heaven and bring heaven to this town. Get ready, and get a grip of the kingdom and let go for nothing or no-one. Because your life depends on it.
