Taking The Kingdom Of Heaven By Force

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Taking The KingdomOf Heaven By Force

• Matthew 117-15

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• Is it the case that we must fight our way into
  the celestial city tooth and toenail, or is it
  possible that we can stroll into heaven with our
  hands in our pockets?

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In Luke 1324, Jesus said, Strive to enter
through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you,
will seek to enter and will not be able.
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• We dont just stroll ever so casually through the
  narrow gate we have to strive to get through.
• The word suggests there is to be a great deal of
  effort on our part.

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Ephesians 612 For we do not wrestle against
flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the
darkness of this age, against the spiritual hosts
of wickedness in the heavenly places.
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Hebrews 411 says Let us therefore be
diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall
after the same example of disobedience.
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Acts 1422 we read about Paul and Barnabas
strengthening the souls of the disciples,
exhorting them to continue in the faith, and
saying, We must through many tribulations enter
the Kingdom of God.
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• Matthew 1112 says,
• And from the days of John the Baptist until now
  the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the
  violent take it by force.

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• What Jesus was doing here was drawing a
  comparison between the self-satisfied Pharisee on
  the one hand and the desperate sinner on the
  other.

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• The Pharisee was willing to stroll toward heaven
  satisfied that his self-righteousness was all
  that was necessary to gain him entry into the
  Kingdom of Heaven.

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• There were others who were desperate sinners and
  because of their sin and helplessness, they were
  charging ahead toward salvation.

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• Matthew 1034-39 says,
• Do not think that I came to bring peace on
  earth. I did not come to bring peace but a
  sword.

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• For I have come to set a man against his father,
  a daughter against her mother, and a
  daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a
  mans foes shall be those of his own household.
  He who loves his father or mother more than me is
  not worthy of me.

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• And he who loves son or daughter more than me is
  not worthy of me. And he who does not take up
  his cross and follow after me is not worthy of
  me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he
  who loses his life for my sake will find it.

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• The cost of accepting that grace is high.
• We must be willing to pay the price whatever that
  price may be in our lives.

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• No one will stroll into the celestial city with
  their hands in their pockets. That palace is
  reserved for forceful men and women who in their
  desperation will do whatever it takes to know,
  serve, and grow in the Lord.

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• Has your satisfaction with your spiritual level
  of development caused you to stop seeking to
  learn and grow, and mature in the faith?