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Press Your Way Into the Kingdom of God

Press Your Way Into the Kingdom of God

(Luke 16:16) The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. Our subject today is Press Your Way Into The Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is a Kingdom of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost and it is available for you to posses today. In order to posses it, you need to put forth effort. It is being preached and every man that believes God is pressing his way into it. Will you be among those that press into this kingdom of righteousness, peace and joy?

Jesus said that the law and the prophets were until John the Baptist. Now a change has taken place and God's people will be identified not by the law and genealogy they have but by the righteous lives that they live. Being born into a certain family of a specific race or creed no longer guarantees you a special treatment. Now the kingdom of God is preached and every man can press into it. It is available to the Jew and to the gentile. It is available to every man regardless of ancestry, nationality, race, or past religion. If you choose, you can be in the Kingdom of God. It is now up to you and you alone. It is here and if you desire the righteousness, peace, and joy it offers, then press your way into this kingdom.

Now when we think of a kingdom we naturally think of a literal country that is ruled by a king. This tends to confuse a number of people and they seem to think that the Kingdom of God is someday going to appear on the map of nations of the earth but that is not the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is within you - (Luke 17:20-21) And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: -21. Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. Yes, the Kingdom of God is not a literal nation among the nations of the earth for the Kingdom of God is within you. Since the Kingdom of God is not a literal kingdom then what does it consist of?

(Rom 14:17) For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Yes the kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom consisting of righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Now you can begin to understand how you can press your way into such a kingdom. You can put forth the effort to live a righteous life. This in turn will lead you to receive peace and you have in effect learned to enjoy life. This is all possible through the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of God. The fundamental teaching of Jesus in His famous sermon on the mount was that we were to seek first above all else the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. - (Mat 6:31-33) Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? -32. (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. -33. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. - Seek ye first the kingdom of God. This is more important that food, drink, clothing, housing, our anything else. Seek ye first the kingdom of God.

Now since our Lord has instructed us to seek first the kingdom of God, then it is only reasonable that you get started. You know what you are seeking - a kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. You know where this kingdom will be - within you. You know how to find it and to obtain it - through the power of the Holy Ghost and by putting forth the effort that you can to seek it and press into it. And so you are to put forth the effort to seek this great treasure and put it within you. - (Mat 7:7) Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: Your part is to ask, to seek, and to knock. If you will do your part, then this great kingdom will be opened unto you. What are you doing to press your way into the kingdom of God today?

Are you seeking the Lord? (Deu 4:25-29) When thou shalt beget children, and children's children, and ye shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God, to provoke him to anger: -26. I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan to possess it; ye shall not prolong your days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed. -27. And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the LORD shall lead you. -28. And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. -29. But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. - In this passage of scripture we see that God has from old time established a truth that if you will seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul, you will find him. This passage of scripture applies to many in our land today for many have indeed corrupted themselves and much evil is being done in God's sight. Yet, the promise is that if you will seek God with all your heart and soul, you will find Him. He waits to be gracious to you. He waits to hear your prayer of repentance and He stands ready to forgive you. Will you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul? This is no half-hearted effort, but a full court press. Press your way into the kingdom of God.

(Isa 55:1-7) Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. -2. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. -3. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. -4. Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. -5. Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee. -6. Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: -7. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. - Jesus said blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled. Isaiah is telling you that is you thirst for righteousness, then seek the Lord while he may be found. if you will seek him, with all your heart and soul, you will find him. If you will forsake your unrighteous thoughts and ways, God will have mercy upon you and he will abundantly pardon. He does not just pardon, he abundantly pardons. Your sins are cast as far as east is from west never to be remembered against you again. He makes a new creature out of you. A creature that is filled with the poser of the Holy Ghost living a holy, godly, righteous life in this present world.

May you that are listening to me may be thinking that you are a Christian but you don't feel that you are living righteous, nor do you feel that you have the peace and joy that I am talking about this morning. Consider with me the scripture - (2 Chr 7:14) If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Could it bee that God is talking to you in this passage? Is there some wicked way in you that is keeping you from enjoying the peace and joy of Christ in your life? If so, then take the counsel of the Bible - turn from your wicked ways, pray and seek God's face. Press your way into the kingdom of God.

Consider for a little how this kingdom works. It is a kingdom of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost, the holy spirit convicts you of sin. You listen to his conviction and pray and repent and forsake your sin. You go on your way now doing the right thing instead of the evil thing. As you do the right thing, you feel pleased with yourself and you know that God is please with you. You can feel the smile of God as you continue to do the right thing day after day. You are at peace with God because you are obeying Him, You are at peace with your fellow man because you are doing the right thing. What a peace that brings to your being. It brings a peace that is beyond description. -(Phil 4:7) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Yes, this peace passeth all understanding. It is so great that you cannot express it nor can those that don't posses it understand it.

As long as you listen to the holy spirit that is within you, you will continue to enjoy the benefits of the kingdom of God. That is what is meant by the expression through the Holy Ghost. It is the nature of the Holy Ghost to lead and guide into holiness. It is the conviction of the Holy Ghost that lets you know what is the right path to take and what is the right thing to do in every situation of life. By being obedient to the Holy Ghost, you will be able to posses the kingdom of God within you.

It is your part to obey the prompting of the Holy Spirit. That is why Jesus tells you to press your way into the kingdom of God. It is up to you to put forth the effort to live right. You are the one that must go to God in prayer. You are the one that needs to get up, go out to church, listen to the preacher, repent, confess, and forsake your evil ways. That is your part and until you put forth the effort to do your part, you will never know the blessings of the kingdom of God. (Mat 11:12) And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. The expression of violence refers to the strength, vigor, earnestness of desire, endeavor, fervency and zeal required to posses the Kingdom of God. The Greek word used here means to seize or to press. Luke's recording of this message says Luke 16:16 "The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the Kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it." What kind of strength, vigor, endeavor, fervency, zeal, and earnestness of desire will you put forth to posses a kingdom of righteousness, peace and joy?

Seek God with all your heart and with all your soul. Put all your strength into your effort. Make your effort vigorous. Be fervent about your search. Don't give up, press on until you find it. It is indeed worth the effort and you will be forever glad that you put forth the effort. Listen to what the apostle Paul has to say - (Phil 3:13-15) Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, -14. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. -15. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Press on toward the mark, reaching forth unto those things which are before, pressing for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Listen to what Paul tells Timothy - (1 Tim 6:12) Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. - Yes, fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life. These are words of action telling us to put forth effort for it takes effort to press your way into the kingdom of God.

We know that Satan does not want you to press your way into the kingdom of God. After all it is his job to drag you into the kingdom of darkness. He will work very hard to deceive you. He will do his very best to talk you out of living right. He will do his very best to keep you from seeking the Lord. He will resist you at every turn that you think to make. However, if you will listen to the Holy Ghost instead of to Satan's unholy spirits, you can press your way into this most beautiful kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy. When Satan comes with his temptations and lies, take up the armour of God and put him to flight.

(Eph 6:10-18) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. -11. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. -12. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. -13. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. -14. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; -15. And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; -16. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. -17. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: -18. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

This is your equipment that the Holy Ghost has provided for you to be strong in the power of his might. By using the whole armour of God, you are able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Believe me the devil has many wiles and only by taking the entire armour of God will you be able to fight him off. Consider this armour. First of all you gird up your loins with truth. Remember the devil is a liar and the father of lies. So you need to fill your mind with the truth. Too many times the devil tricks people into accepting sinful practices in their lives by lying to them. He will tell you that there is nothing wrong with cheating a little because lots of others do it. But this is where the truth will come to your aid. The truth is found in the Bible. because lots of others do it. But this is where the truth will come to your aid. The truth is found in the Bible. (Rev 21:8) But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Searching for and sorting out the truth is a continual process that pays great dividends for it is your front line of protection from the wiles of the devil. Every part of this armour is important. You need the breastplate of righteousness. You need to wear righteousness. Keep it in front of you. It is your protection. You need gospel shoes on your feet - shoes that work for peace toward God and man. You need faith enough to quench the fiery darts that the devil will throw at you. You need the helmet of salvation - it is your mind set that protects you from being deceived. You need the sword of the spirit - it is your weapon that will put the enemy to flight. Pray always, watch and pray with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. Don't let up, don't give up, press your way step by step, day by day into the kingdom of God.

The righteousness and peace, and joy of obeying the holy Ghost is far beyond any pleasure that the devil has to offer in this world. It is a kingdom and Jesus is our King. (Luke 16:16) The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. Press Your Way Into The Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is a Kingdom of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost and it is available for you to posses today. In order to posses it, you need to put forth effort. It is being preached and every man that believes God is pressing his way into it. Will you be among those that press into this kingdom of righteousness, peace and joy?