Pressing Into The Kingdom

Q: What does the Bible say about the kingdom of God?

The Bible describes the kingdom of God as the reign of Christ, which is spiritual and among us since His coming. The kingdom of God, as articulated in the Bible, represents the dominion and reign of Jesus Christ. It signifies that He is the sovereign King who rules and reigns over all creation, including salvation. According to Luke 16:16, the kingdom has been preached since the time of John the Baptist, and as Jesus said in Luke 17:20-21, the kingdom is not something to be externally observed; rather, it exists within us or among us. Christ's reign is not limited to a physical realm but is a spiritual dominion wherein He governs the hearts of believers, calling them into His everlasting kingdom.

Q: Why is the concept of pressing into the kingdom important for Christians?

Pressing into the kingdom reflects a vigorous pursuit of Christ and His righteousness, which is essential for salvation. For Christians, the concept of pressing into the kingdom is vital because it embodies a determined effort to seek Christ and His righteousness. As expressed in the scripture, 'the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force' (Matthew 11:12). This pressing indicates a strong desire, firm resolution, and all-out endeavor to attain the treasure that is found in Christ. It requires believers to actively seek, ask, and knock, demonstrating their earnestness in pursuing a relationship with the King. Without this pressing pursuit, one risks remaining indifferent or outside the true faith.

Q: How do we know that God's sovereignty in salvation is true?

God's sovereignty in salvation is evident through His predestining and calling of His elect, as outlined in scripture. The truth of God's sovereignty in salvation is rooted in scripture, particularly in Romans 8:28-30. This passage outlines the divine process of foreknowledge, predestination, calling, justification, and glorification of the elect, demonstrating that salvation is entirely God's work. Furthermore, Romans 9:18 affirms God's prerogative to show mercy or harden hearts. This not only underscores His sovereign authority but also reveals the personalized way in which God interacts with His creation. His choices and actions regarding who is saved and how are deliberate and rooted in His divine wisdom and purpose.

Q: What does it mean to be called by God to enter His kingdom?

Being called by God signifies a divine summons to repent and trust in Christ for salvation. The calling of God to enter His kingdom is not a mere invitation but a sovereign summons that compels one to respond. In the context of scripture, God's call is akin to a subpoena—once issued, it demands a response. Romans 8:30 highlights that those He predestines, He also calls, ensuring the effectiveness of His redemptive plan. The call is made evident through the preaching of the gospel, wherein individuals are invited to press into the kingdom, showcasing a desperate need for Christ. This divine call leads to a genuine acknowledgment of sin and a heartfelt acceptance of Christ as Lord and Savior.

Q: Why should Christians seek the kingdom of God first?

Christians should seek the kingdom of God first because it brings eternal life and all necessary provisions for life. Seeking the kingdom of God first is a fundamental principle for Christians as emphasized in Matthew 6:33. This pursuit not only leads to eternal life but assures believers that all other needs will be provided for by God. The kingdom represents Christ’s rule and reign, and aligning oneself with this pursuit allows believers to experience the fullness of His grace and favor. By prioritizing the kingdom, Christians acknowledge their dependence on God, understanding that worldly pursuits are mere distractions from the surpassing worth found in Christ. This act of seeking signifies a commitment to live under God's sovereignty and trust in His provision and purpose for their lives.

your Bibles to Luke chapter sixteen. Luke chapter sixteen. I ask you to arouse yourselves
as much as is within you, to try to pay careful attention
to this message this morning. Luke, chapter 16. We'll read
one verse. Verse 16. Our Lord Jesus Christ
is speaking here, and he says, Luke 16, verse 16, The law and the prophets were
until John, and since that time Since John, the kingdom of God
is preached, and every man presseth into it. Throughout the New Testament,
there's made mention of this kingdom of God, the kingdom of
God, sometimes referred to as the kingdom of heaven. And here
in the text, our Lord says the law and the prophets were up
to John, but since that time, since John, the kingdom of God
is preached. It was said of John that he came
preaching, repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. And it
says immediately afterward that Christ came preaching, repent,
for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. What he's saying here
is, in other words, the Law and the Prophets, that is, the Old
Testament, they only foretold or pictured or were a shadow
of things to come. They were a shadow of the coming
kingdom. But now, Christ says, look over
just one page at chapter 17, verse 21, but Christ says here, But the kingdom is here. It's
here. The Old Testament said it was
coming. Look at the last part of verse 20. He says, The kingdom
of God cometh not with observation or an outward show. And neither
shall they say, Lo, here. Lo, there it is. For behold,
the kingdom of God is within you, or among you. He's talking
to people, he's standing there, and he says, The kingdom of God
is right in the middle of you. It's here. And the text says, The kingdom
of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. Now, what is meant by this kingdom?
Bear with me. Jeremiah, chapter 23. Turn over
there. I'll have you turn this morning
to several scriptures. But as I say continually, it
does not matter what a man says. It does not matter what a man
says. The only thing important is what
this book says. So I continually refer to this
book, God's Word. In Jeremiah 23, verse 5, it says,
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord. Oh, there's a lot of
people talking about a coming, but the Lord says this, the days
are coming, that I will raise unto David, that is, of the seed
of David, a righteous branch, capital B, and a king shall reign. A king shall reign. What is the
kingdom? Simply put, the kingdom is the
dominion of the King. The King's dominion. And Christ said, it's here. The
King's dominion is here. The King has come to earth. Terry,
his name is Jesus Christ. He's King. He's the King. He is the sovereign King. He
reigns. He rules among the armies of
heaven, and the inhabitants of earth, and none can stay his
hand or say unto him, You've got no right to do that. He's
the king. He reigns. He rules. He does
as he pleases. He's king, the Lord Jesus Christ. You see, he came down here. He's the king. He came down here
to claim what was his. He owns this place. Let me read
this to you in Colossians, chapter 1, verse 16. It says, By him,
by Christ, were all things created that are in heaven and that are
in earth, visible and invisible, that is, spiritual or material,
whether they be thrones, dominions, principalities, powers, all things
were created by him and for him. Christ. He owns this place. He's
king over it. He came to claim it. He came
to claim what was rightfully his, what the Father had given
him from the beginning. So the preaching of the kingdom
is to preach the king. It's to extol the king, to exalt
the king. King's on the throne. King, the
Lord Jesus Christ. And it's to preach the gospel
of the kingdom. That's what our Lord referred
to it as. He says he came preaching, in Mark chapter one, fourteen,
it says he came preaching the gospel of the kingdom. The good
news that indeed, Henry, a king does reign. That this thing isn't
just out there, you know, going by chance or by luck. Or Satan,
that Satan's rule. Oh, king reigns. It's the good
news of this. King reigns. The good news. It's the gospel. The good news
of the absolute Lordship, and I say it in its most absolute
term, the absolute, that means undeniable, unrefutable, unchangeable,
the Lordship, the sovereign rule and reign of Jesus Christ, the
absolute Lordship of Jesus Christ in creation. Now, all men everywhere
will acknowledge that God created the earth. except your basic
atheists or agnostics, evolutionists. They don't believe that. But
those that profess to be Christians, they all profess that God created
the earth. He had that right that all things
he created as he would. So he is Lord over creation,
yes, but, and, and, I should say. He's Lord over salvation,
too. Primarily salvation. Not only did he create all things
as he would, but he saves whom he will. The scriptures couldn't
be any more clear concerning this. His kingship, his lordship,
his rule over salvation. That he chooses whom he will.
That's the divine prerogative of this king. It's his kingdom. He chooses whom he will. And
he imputes this righteousness that we prayed about that Christ.
That Christ came and established this. Standing as a man is perfect
life that a man must have to be accepted by God. God takes
that and he gives it to whom he will then have to give it
to anybody. But he takes this perfect standing
that Christ. made as a man so God could accept
men. He takes that and puts it on
or puts it in the place of whom He will. He gives it to whom
He will. And He gives eternal salvation.
His salvation is eternal. It's forever. What the Lord does,
it's forever. It's forever. Never mind what
this world says about saved today and lost tomorrow. What the Lord
does is forever. what this king does. So, bear
with me. The preaching of the kingdom
is to preach the king, to exalt the king, to extol the king,
to tell men about the king. The Old Testament said he's coming,
he's coming. The New Testament said he's here,
he's here. And now the epistles say he's
coming again. This king's coming back again.
It's to preach the king, it's to preach the gospel of the king,
how he saves men. Now, he takes those into his
kingdom that he loves and chooses. And the kingdom is meant by this
also. It's meant the habitation, the
kingdom of heaven. The habitation, the palace of
the king, where the king lives, is the kingdom. Simple enough. And Christ said
this. He said, My kingdom is not of
this world. Men are still making that mistake. My kingdom is not
of this world. It's not my primary concern.
My kingdom is spiritual. If my kingdom were of this world,
he told Pilate, my servants would fight. We'd be concerned with
this world. We'd be taken up with this world,
everything about it. We'd be fighting to hold on to
it. But it's not. It's spiritual. It's spiritual. And it's said in another place
that we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, but eternal
in the heavens. So not only is it a spiritual
kingdom, but it's eternal. It's going to last forever. It's
in the heavens. Where's that? I don't know. No
man's ever been there and come back except Christ. We don't
know. We don't know where that is,
but it's spiritual. We can't see it. So here it is.
The King is Christ. It's Jesus Christ, he's king.
His dominion, where does Christ reign? Everywhere. Over all people,
all places, all things, all events, especially salvation. He's sovereign over all things,
especially salvation. This word, sovereignty. We use
that word here very often. The churches that we are affiliated
with. called himself Sovereign Grace. Where do you hear that
other than here and other places that we know? You don't hear
it, do you? Why? The word sovereign is usually
a term peculiar to a king, isn't it? We have no king but Caesar,
they told Pilate. The same thing holds true for
this world. We have no absolute king. We will not have this man reign
over us, rule over us. We will not have this Jesus Christ
who is sovereign in salvation that gives it to us. We won't
have that. Oh, we'll have a Jesus in a manger, a baby we can do
with what we will. We'll have that. That's okay. We'll take a martyr on a cross
whom we feel sorry for and cry for and let him do what we want
him to do. We'll take that. But not this
king. We don't want this king. Therefore, they don't use the
term sovereign. But we do. We're not ashamed
of it. We're not ashamed of it. You
see, kings don't answer to anyone, do they? You try going up and
trying to tell Henry VIII what to do, it'll cut your head off. Kings don't answer to anybody.
They do what they please. What does the Scripture say about
our king? Our God is in the heavens. He hath done whatsoever he hath
pleased. not what men let him do, but
what he has pleased. Kings don't have to pardon anyone
either, do they? Especially those accused of high
treason. You let a man be accused of treason
against a king, is he going to get pardoned? Well, all men everywhere have
have rebelled against God Almighty from birth. We come forth from
the womb speaking lies, rebelling against our High King. It's treason,
isn't it? It's treason. We even killed
his son when he came down here, the son of the King. We killed
him. Who's he got to pardon? Does
he have to pardon anybody? He shouldn't pardon anybody,
should he? But he does. He does. He has mercy on whom
he will have mercy, and whom he will, he hardens. It's the king's prerogative.
It's the king's prerogative. That's Romans 9.18. That's not
me. That's Romans 9.18. He has mercy on whom he will
have mercy, and whom he will, he hardens their heart. Well, that's sad. I want to say
these things not in bragging or saying, yeah, we believe this,
you don't, or they don't. I don't want to say it in that
way. I don't want to come across that way at all. I want to say
that with a tear in my eye, with compassion for men so. But I
do want to say it in such a way that there's no doubt about it,
that God reigns no matter what this world says. He's king. Well,
listen. How does anybody get into this
kingdom? It's the king's place, it's his dwelling place. How
do you get there? The scripture says there are going to be people
dwelling with him in this kingdom. How are you going to get there?
Look at Romans chapter 8. Romans chapter 8, with me. I'm interested. How do I want
to get there? Romans chapter 8. How does anybody
get into this kingdom? Romans 8, verse 28. Everybody
reads this at a funeral. They don't go on to read the
rest of it. They just read this one verse. Look at Romans 8,
verse 28. The Apostle of Jesus Christ,
the Apostle Paul, says, and we know beyond the shadow of a doubt,
we know that all things work together for good to them that
love God. Those that love God, why do they
love God? Because they've been called.
Them who are called according to his purpose. Look at verse
29. For whom he did foreknow, that
is predestined, foreordained. That's exactly what that word
means. That doesn't mean he looked down to see who was going to
believe and then he predestinated them. That's the most ignorant
thing I've ever heard of. That's an insult to my intelligence.
You mean God looked down and saw who was going to believe,
so he wrote their names down in a book. He elected them. That's
what this world says is election. How does he know it's going to
take place like that? They say some of them are going
to fall away. Did he know about them? In other words, he looked
down to see who was going to believe, so he elected them.
He can't take credit for anything, can he? He's just a recorder. See what I mean? He's just recording
things. Let's see what's going to happen here. A stenographer. Why does he foreknow things? Because they must certainly come
to pass. Anything that is certainly foreknown must certainly come
to pass. In other words, Jean Dixon, she
makes these predictions. She's just guessing. They don't
always come to pass. And the scripture plainly says,
Jeremiah, that if a prophet says a thing and it doesn't come to
pass, he's not a prophet. So in order for a man to be saved,
absolutely be saved, finally be saved, God had to know it
for sure. And how does he know anything
for sure? He does it. He ordains it. That's the only
way you can be certain about anything, is to do it. We said
that, didn't we, the other day. You want something done right,
do it yourself. If you want a job done, made
sure it's done, you're going to do it yourself, aren't you?
You're not going to leave it to chance. You're not going to leave
it to somebody else to do it. You're going to do it yourself.
Right, Margaret? Do it yourself. And if anything
ever held true, it's this, in salvation concerning our God.
For whom he did foreknow, that is, ordain, he also did predestinate,
look at it, verse 29, to be conformed to the image of his Son, that
he might be the firstborn among many brethren. And whom he did
predestinate, him he also called, and whom he called, him he also
Justified, declared innocent. And whom he justified, he also
glorified, wrote their name in heaven. See, how does anybody
get into the kingdom? The king has to call us. He has
to choose us. He has to call us and record
us in his book. And listen now. Look back at
the text here in Luke 16. Everyone that has been called
by a divine subpoena. Here's the difference in what
we're saying and what this world is saying. They're saying that
many are called, they're saying that God's Word is just, and
His grace is just thrown out there like a big old net, and
anybody that wants it, you know, whoever he hopes can get some.
Or like a platter of food or something thrown to the birds.
Whatever bird wants to pick at it can have it. If you want to
accept Jesus as your personal Savior, here's my grace, have
it. Who wants it? That's not the
grace of the Bible. That's not salvation of the Bible.
God's call is not an invitation. Anybody want to accept Jesus
as your personal Savior? That's not God's call. God's
call is the call of a king, the call of a sovereign judge. It's
a subpoena. What do you do when you're subpoenaed
by a court? You better show up. If you don't show up, they'll
go out and drag you in by your heels and lock you up. This king
subpoenas people. He calls them by his power, by
his mind, by his word. Subpoenas them. He summons them.
Plural. Summons them. And look at this.
Everybody that's been called, verse 16, the kingdom of God
is preached. That's how he calls them. Through
the preaching of the word. God is chosen by the foolishness
of preaching to save them that believe. Preaching. What I'm
doing this morning. Calling. Preaching. The kingdom of God
is preached. And every man that gets this
call, look at it, presses, presses into the kingdom. Presses. Now,
this is what I wanted to get at, the Bible part. What is it
to press into the kingdom? Listen to me, listen to me. It indicates, when you're
pressing on something, It indicates a strong desire, doesn't it? There's three types of people.
There's those that are just not interested. Just not interested. They're
not here, evidently, obviously. Not interested. There's those
that are nominally interested. You know, yes, you know, good
sermon. You know, there's a lot of people
wanting an insurance policy. Fire escape. Yeah, just in case
this is so, I better, you know. Then there's those that are really
interested. I've got to know this. That's a strong desire. I've got to know this. You know,
whatever is dearest to a man is what he constantly desires
the most. I remember when I was, I've used
this illustration when I was dating my wife. I desired her
more than anything or anybody else at the time. I didn't know
Christ then. But I desired her, and I wanted
to be with her. I wanted to call her up. I wanted
to be in her presence. Everything about her. I wanted
to read about her, read her love letter. Everything about her.
I was pursuing her. I wasn't concerned with cars,
my job, anything. But her, I had to have that girl.
Strong desire. The psalmist says one thing,
we read it this morning, one thing have I desired. One thing
have I desired of the Lord. And that's what I'm going to
seek after. That I may dwell in the house of the Lord, that
is his kingdom. I want to dwell in his kingdom. Why? So miss
hell? Oh no. He goes on to say, to
behold the beauty of the kingdom. To behold, to see this one I'm
taken up with. To see him. and to inquire in his kingdom
about him and about all these things that have taken place.
One thing have I desired. That's what I'm going after.
It's a strong desire. To press is a strong desire.
Did you read this? Listen. Every man that's been
called when the Gospels preach, a true child of God is pressing.
This is what I want. This is who I want. It's a strong
desire. It's a firm resolution. The Apostle
Paul said, I'm determined not to know anything among you save
Jesus Christ and him crucified. Can you say that? I'm not concerned
about anything else. I want to know him. I've got
to know him. I'm determined, and it's to use
every means available. The Apostle goes on to say this,
if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection, any means,
whatever it may cost me. You see the seriousness of this
message? If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection
of the dead, I'm going to press toward the mark for the prize
of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. I'm pressing! I'm
getting mad at myself here. I'm preaching to myself here. It's a firm resolution. You know,
resolutions. We make our New Year's resolutions.
Everybody does. I've done it. Still do it. They're
worthless, really. They're worthless. They're made
on January 1st and broken January 2nd, our resolutions. The only
resolve that we could really make is a resolve that is using
the means that God, the promises that God has given. This is the
onlyâ€”feelings come, feelings go. Feelings are deceiving. The thing I'm going to count
on, my hope is in the Word of God. Nothing else is worth believing. Not my feelings, not my resolutions.
But it is a firm resolution, but it's based on the means.
It's to use every means available. And I'll get into that in just
a minute. It's not only a strong desire to press, it's not only
a strong desire and a firm resolution, but it's an all-out endeavor.
All out. Sink or swim. I go to him. It's an all-out endeavor. Ecclesiastes
9, 10 says this, whatever your hand finds to do, you do it with
all your might. All your might. You know, I used to play basketball.
I grew up playing basketball. I was pretty good. I wasn't very
big. Still not. But I was good at
defense. The coach usually put me in when
we needed the ball. I was like a wild man going after
the ball. Full-court press. You've heard of a full-court
press? What are you doing when you're full-court pressing? You
want the ball. Give me that ball! Every man that wants the kingdom
is pressing. I've got to have Christ. I've
got to have Him. It's an all-out endeavor. You
know, if you were in there in the game and you were just kind
of lackluster, kind of laying back, you're coming out of the
game, aren't you? I want somebody in there pressing.
It's to do it with all one's might. It's striving. It's spoken
of in the scriptures, striving to enter in. It's seeking. What are you doing when you're
seeking something, really seeking something? You're really looking
for it. You ever lost your keys or what?
You're looking for it, aren't you? You don't say, well, I'll
find them, I'll find them. No. When you need those keys,
you're going to look. Seeking is hungering. I bet when
Henry gets hungry, nobody's stopping him from getting something to
eat. Same way with this old fellow. It's hunger, thirsting, Christ
says. Blessed are they that hunger
and thirst after righteousness, after Christ. Scripture says
it's to seek him as silver and search for him as hidden treasure,
pearl of great price. It's not only an all-out endeavor,
they've got to hurry, and it's a real A real thing, a real and
a particular thing, direction. It's not turning aside to the
right or to the left. It's not be taken up with this
thing or that thing. It's one thing have I desired.
One thing have I desired. A certain destination and direction
to win Christ and be found in him. Not being taken, not being
blown aside by every wind of doctrine, prophecy, this and
that. I want to know Him. Him, whom to know is to have
eternal life. And it's a real thing. Paul said,
I'm not fighting this one that beats the air. Not fighting this one that beats
the air. We're not chasing a dream here,
a Christ that's just some elusive dream or myth. As I said before,
spiritual idealism, the opiate of the masses, Bob, as they call
it, the communists. I'm not chasing some dream here.
I'm talking about a real person, a real God. I'm not fighting
as one that beats the air. Are you fighting as one that
beats the air? Playing games? And this is a fight against opposition
and difficulties. If it was easy and clear, if
the path was clear and it was an easy road, there wouldn't
be any need to press, would there? You'd just stroll along. That's
what men are doing. Yeah, I'll hear you at a convenient
time, if that's to say it. Paul, come on back at a more
convenient time. Almost you persuade me to be a Christian. I believe
that Calvinism. Yeah, I believe that stuff, but
every man to his own. Not pressing? What did you say?
You mean God is holy and he requires a million holiness? And if I
don't have it, I'm condemned? Tell me more about this. I've
got to get it. It'll be on the front row. Tell me about this.
Tell me about this Christ who's my only hope. Turn over to Matthew chapter
11. Listen to this. He refers to it in a little stronger
sense here. Matthew chapter 11. He refers
to this pressing in a little stronger terms. Matthew 11, verse 12. From the days of John the Baptist
until now, the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent
take it by force. Give it to me! Open the gate! Jacob said, I will not let you
go until you bless me. When the Lord was wrestling with
him, and that's the sense of what the Apostle says in Ephesians
6, he says, we wrestle not with flesh and blood, but against
principalities and powers, the rulers of the darkness and spiritual
wickedness in high places. It's a real battle going on here.
Nancy, it's real, isn't it? You feel this battle. Joe, you
feel it. It's a warfare going on. It's
a wrestling. And Jacob said, when he wrestled
with the Lord, I won't let you go until you bless me. Give me
Christ or else I die. John said, I won't let you go. I won't quit. I'm fain not. That's what it is to press. And
if they go out from us, there's no doubt that they were not of
us. If they were of us, they no doubt would have continued
pressing with us toward Christ. All right? Why should we press
into this kingdom then? Why? Listen. Because of the absolute
extreme necessity of it. Listen to the word. He that hath
the Son hath life. He that hath not, son, does not
have life. He that believeth not is condemned
already. The wrath of God abideth upon
the ungodly." Who's that? That's all of us. God is angry with the wicked. Who's that? That's all of us.
Scripture says, What's the opposite of good? Evil. Wickedness is
non-good. Scripture says God's angry with
the evil, with the wicked, every day. You see the necessity of
this? Of having the king, of knowing
the king, of being in the kingdom? Not only the necessity of it,
but the uncertainty of the opportunity. Listen. The uncertainty of the
opportunity. Time is short. Scripture says
today is the day of salvation. Every time a person comes in
this building, or wherever the gospel is preached, this word
goes forth. In truth, I hope, I hope God
will make me faithful to preach the gospel every time. Why? Because
men's souls are at stake here. Every time we come into this
building, the word goes forth. And it's going to accomplish
one of two things. Life or death. It's going to make us wise unto
salvation or it's going to harden our heart. The word is a saver
of life unto life or death unto death. In other words, a person
will go away not hearing it. When a few days are past, the
scripture says, when a few days, some of you, Violet, you're sixty
years old, Henry, a few days Like that,
isn't it? When a few days are past, the
scripture says, we're going to go the way of all flesh. The opportunity may be gone.
You've heard it now. You're hearing it now. Tomorrow,
this may be it. I'm not talking about chance
here. I'm just talking the way it is. Scripture says God set
our bounds and we cannot pass. Do you know what those bounds
are? Does anybody know what those bounds are? Christ said, boast
not thyself of tomorrow. You don't know what today is
going to bring forth. Who better make sure of this
opportunity, am I? While a person is out of Christ
every hour, a person is out of Christ every hour, every minute,
a person doesn't know Christ, doesn't believe Christ, is out
of Christ. It's like he's gambling with his soul. He's playing Russian
roulette with his soul. Every hour. Click. Click. Every day. Click. Where's the
bullet? What day is the bullet coming?
And he's going to fly out and meet his God. Click. This is reality, isn't it? This
is reality. You see the seriousness of it?
Why aren't we more concerned for people then? We don't really
believe this. Not only why should we seek it,
not only because it's necessary, not only because of
the opportunity, but the difficulty of it, the difficulty of getting
in, innumerable obstacles. Most people fail. Many are called,
few are chosen. Most people quit, don't they? Why is there not a flowing crowd
in here? Most people quit. Too hard. That's what the disciples
said about Christ. This is hard saying. We can't
hear this. You're requiring too much. So they went away, and Christ
said, will you also go away? And the possibility of getting
in. Why should we pray this? Because it is possible to get
in. It is possible. Not only possible. But he is
certain that all those that seek, that ask, that knock, will get
in, Ellen. So I'm going to start sneaking
and asking. and the great value of it. Why
should we seek it? Because of the great value of
it, the excellency of the King himself. Christ is all. We seek
joy and happiness all our lives to no avail. We toil all night,
Lord. We've caught nothing. I don't
have any peace. I don't have any comfort or assurance.
I don't have anything. Got me a motorcycle, got me a
house, got me a boat, but it's not satisfying me. Christ, I've
got to have you. I've got to know you. I've got
to have this peace in my heart, this comfort in my soul. That's
what I need. Christ, he says, he is all these
things. Peace, joy, happiness, contentment. You know, anything worth having
usually takes great pains to get it done. Anything worth having. These children that we have,
you ladies, Great travail. It takes a long time. Nine months
seems like nine years while you're going through it, doesn't it?
Great pains and great travail and great sorrow. Well, it costs
Christ. Thirty-three and a third years
he worked this thing out. Is it going to cost us any less? Why press? Because it's needful. The Lord has ordain this for
our good, just pressing, and listen to it. Anything diligently
sought after, anything painfully worked for, anything that takes
a long time to get it, is that much sweeter when it comes, isn't
it? Me and you and I waited five years to have a child. You reckon
we love that little girl? Just watch us when she's around.
Just look in my eyes while I'm looking at that girl. Weeping endures for the night,
but joy comes in the morning. That night seems like when your
child's sick. It's a long time in it. You're waiting for the
morning. We read that song. My soul waits for thee more than
they that watch for the morning. A mother sits up by that bed
of that child. Oh, when does fever gonna break?
All night long waits. When's it gonna break? Can't
wait till the morning time. Somehow or another, it always
seems to break in the morning then. God's wisdom in it, to relate
that spiritually. Sickness, Joe, makes you appreciate
good health, doesn't it? Hunger, ah boy, makes food that
much better, doesn't it? Somebody said, hunger is the
best sauce you can put on food. I can go in, or go somewhere,
and I'm starving to death, I think I am, starving to death. Somebody
will serve up just, you know, peanut butter and jelly, and
I'll think, this is the best meal I've ever had. This is great. First, boy, it makes water awful
good. How about guilt, a guilty conscience? Boy, if you ever hear forgiveness
and pardon your sins, Oh, if you ever feel
your sins, it'll make Christ awful sweet to you, awful precious.
It'll make that sacrifice mean everything to you. If you've
ever been in the gutter, you'll press, you'll press. Life's trials
will make eternal life. Oh, my. It'll make eternal life
so sweet. And this is God's mercy. Do you
see God's mercy in making this thing so difficult? It makes
him much more precious. Well, briefly, how do we press
into the kingdom? Finally, how do we press? Look
at Luke 18, Luke chapter 18, and I'll wind this up. How do
we press? We apply for it, first of all. We apply for entrance. We ask
to let us in. We ask. This is the first evidence
of life. Remember about Hannah when she
was born? When she first started crying,
then I knew she was alive. She's alive. She's a human being.
She had first started breathing. They had to take fluid out of
her lungs, and then she could breathe on her own. I said, she's
going to make it. She's going to make it. That's the first
evidence of life, and Christ said, Ask, and you shall receive.
Knock, and it shall be opened. Those who ask only once, they're
not present. Lord save me, and go on. That ain't present. When he says,
Ask, he's talking about continually. You'll see it here in this story.
Look at Luke 18, verse 1. Christ spoke a parable. unto
them to this end, that we ought to always pray, and not to faint,
not to quit. He said there was in a city a
judge which feared not God, neither regarded man, an atheistic fellow,
and there was a widow in that city. She came unto him, saying,
Avenge me, my adversary, that somebody after me. And the judge
would not for a while. But after a while he said within
himself, though I don't fear God, nor regard man, I'm unjust,
judge, yet because this widow troubles me, she's bothering
me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary
me. And the Lord said, don't you
hear what this unjust judge says? I mean, here's an unjust judge
saying that. I've gotten jobs like that before,
been so persistent that the fellow gave me a job just to get me
out of his hair. When he says, don't you hear
what this unjust judge says? And he says, verse 7, shall not
God, shall not God avenge his own
elect, which cry day and night on the hymnal he bear along with
them? You're crying, you're crying, God, hear me, hear me. Shall
not God only do it? Oh, yes. I tell you, he will
avenge them speedily. Oh, it seems like a long time
for a while, but when he does it, It seems speedy. This life is going to seem like
a vapor when we get over there. Nevertheless, he says, look at
it, verse 8, nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, shall we
find faith like this on earth? Well, it's to seek first the
kingdom of God. When you're present, you're seeking
it first. Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and all these things
about wife, all these things will be added unto you. Anybody
that's putting it off until later is not present. It's not going
in. To press is to diligently look
into it. To be present whenever and wherever
this gospel of this kingdom is being preached. You mean they're
talking about the kingdom down there? Well, I want to be there.
When? What time? Seven? I'll be there
at 630. It's to read the book about the
king. There's a book written about this king. It tells you
all you need to know about this kingdom. Are you pressing? You're
not pressing. Where is that now? Tell me about
that. Book 16? Yeah, I see it, I see
it. Isaiah 53, talking about That's pressing. That's pressing. It's to talk to others that are
pressing, too. It's to talk to others. It's to get in line.
Where are you going? Where are you going? I'm going
fishing. Where are you going? I'm going
to the kingdom. Well, wait on me. I'm going,
too. You been there? You know this
king? Yeah, I know him. Tell me about him. It's to want
to be with those that are in the kingdom and going to the
kingdom. That's pressing. want to be with them at every
opportunity. Anybody who is careless about hearing the gospel, not
pressing, not going in. Anybody who would rather be with
those who are uninterested in the kingdom and not going there,
they're not pressing and they're not going in. And to press finally, how we
press is to wait on the King. That doesn't sound like prison.
Waiting? Well, look at one more scripture
with me and I'll quit. Mark 13. You know, the Lord is coming
back. He is coming back. Mark chapter 13. Mark 13. Our Lord is speaking
once again. In verse 32, Mark 13, verse 32,
he says, Mark 13, 32. Our Lord says, Of
that day and that hour goes no man.

Pressing Into The Kingdom

What does the Bible say about the kingdom of God?

Why is the concept of pressing into the kingdom important for Christians?

How do we know that God's sovereignty in salvation is true?

What does it mean to be called by God to enter His kingdom?

Why should Christians seek the kingdom of God first?

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Pressing Into The Kingdom

What does the Bible say about the kingdom of God?

Why is the concept of pressing into the kingdom important for Christians?

How do we know that God's sovereignty in salvation is true?

What does it mean to be called by God to enter His kingdom?

Why should Christians seek the kingdom of God first?

Sermon Transcript

About Paul Mahan

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