CONDITIONS TO ENTER THE KINGDOM
"Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." - Matt 6:10
Any believer who doesn't desire the kingdom of God is definitely lost to the earth. Although, we are suppose to seek relevance here as children of the kingdom; our utmost desire and longing should be for that home up above.
It is possible to experience the power of the kingdom of heaven here, yet the powers seen here are no substitutes to the home up above. We must desire to be in heaven.
While Jesus painted many illustrations of the kingdom like one who finds a field full of gold and went to sell all he has, yet Jesus in clear terms gave few conditions of entering the kingdom and these are no suggestions but pre-requisites for anyone. Until they are met, your eternal life hangs on the balance.
I am not in anyway ashamed of this topic, because of the way it is impressed on me today. The reason why we are so comfortable over here is because we haven't caught a glimpse of the kingdom.
There is no sin in the kingdom, my egostic nature is dead in the kingdom, temptations are gone in the kingdom to come and worship is a spontaneous act that I don't have to fake!
If we are aware of the conditions for entering the kingdom, our minds will be set on doing them, then grace is made available to fulfil them.
EXCEPT A MAN BE BORN AGAIN
"Jesus answered and said to him, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.'" - John 3:3
I know you've heard this several times that it sounds like a song on auto repeat, but yes, except you're born again.
One of the things I would like you to note here is Nicodemus' relevant question, although he mis-interpreted the statement of Jesus, yet he wasn't so off balance. He knew to be born was more of an experience than an ideology, so he described it the only way he knew.
Being born again is more of an experience than a confession. Yes confession of faith is inclusive, but there's no genuine conversion without a change of life.
No one can see the kingdom of the Father, no one can know how heaven looks like, no one will get close to heaven, if such a one isn't truly born again.
It has nothing to do with church attendance.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." - 2Corin 5:17
We must behold and see that all things have become new, we must know that old things have passed away. This is not a matter of trying to adapt, not at all. The kingdom demands a new person not an adapting person.
Though we are all work in progress till we get to heaven, yet no one doubts whether a child is a new born if indeed it is. Though the child isn't matured and still learning, yet we know that this is a new born child.
The experience of being born again is obvious to the new born and also to the people who will behold. Don't worry, the womb of the world automatically passes away immediately you are born...but we must see that you are indeed born again.
The process of maturity will be, being born of the water and of the spirit, but you must desire the experience and not just a fluke of a moment.
EXCEPT YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS EXCEEDS....
"For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven." - Matt 5:20
The Scribes and Pharisees in our time are Christian traditionalist who insist on the doctrines of men above the commandments of God. They don't desire a higher walk with God, they are just satisfied with the coldness of religious activities.
Hello sir and ma, your walk of righteousness must exceed the mediocrity and one-eye religion of the scribe. Your walk of righteousness must at all times exude power and the wisdom of your righteousness must bear children for all to see, as wisdom is justified by her children.
The scribes and Pharisees of our time will go the length to bind men in the doctrine of selfishness, unfounded traditions and a limiting or inhibiting of the Spirit of God in the lives of men.
Your righteousness must exceed this, because it is no where near the kingdom pattern and it will definitely not lead anyone into the kingdom.
"Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity." - 1Tim 4:12
We must begin to set the pace, a pace that exceeds the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees. We must clearly show a mark and become the example of the new order of righteousness.
Paul said, great is the mystery of godliness, hey, my friend that mystery of godliness must begin to ooze out of us like fragrance that all men will perceive, as we are the fragrance of Christ to men who are saved and to those perishing (2Cor 2:15)
Don't allow anyone intimidate you because of the new revelations you've found in the scripture through the Holy Spirit, don't allow church elders shut you up because you speak in unknown tongues or because you are not speaking the manual word for word.
Your life also must not be hypocritical as the Scribes and Pharisee, this is the bane of their walk, they know the truth but they are hypocrites. You must walk the commandment with integrity and submission to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
The kingdom is not for jokers or conformists, it is for those who exceed and excel in righteousness! The kingdom is not meat and drink, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost!
EXCEPT YOU BECOME AS LITTLE CHILDREN
"and said, Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no miss enter the kingdom of heaven." - Matt 18:3
Before God we must continue to see as ourselves as children and not 'spiritual giants', we must become teachable and forgiving as little children unless we become rebellious.
To become as little children does not in anyway imply we become childish, but it is a demand to be childlike, easily corrected, converted and counselled.
The day we see ourselves as adults before God, that's the day we take the exit path from the kingdom of heaven. Please, I beg you, humility is key to enjoy grace for the race, humility is key to obtain mercy before the throne, humility is key to stand before the king in His glory, humility is key to receive favour in the presence of the Father!
"Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him." - 1John 3:1
The Lord must continually see us as children and we must always long to be same before Him as it is a rare privilege. The Lord does not wean us as independent beings before Him, no one should be too old for the chastening of God.
The prodigal son's immaturity became exposed because he sought independence, he didn't know that His inheritance was the Father and not in possession, he wanted to show and spite the Father that he was old enough... O, what a costly error. But thank God for mercy.
We must become as babes and remain thus to inherit the kingdom of God.
CONCLUSION: Though there are many conditions as per living the kingdom life here, but the above conditions are clearly given if we want to enter that kingdom of Jesus.
God bless you and I love you
Akinsuroju Femi
Any believer who doesn't desire the kingdom of God is definitely lost to the earth. Although, we are suppose to seek relevance here as children of the kingdom; our utmost desire and longing should be for that home up above.
It is possible to experience the power of the kingdom of heaven here, yet the powers seen here are no substitutes to the home up above. We must desire to be in heaven.
While Jesus painted many illustrations of the kingdom like one who finds a field full of gold and went to sell all he has, yet Jesus in clear terms gave few conditions of entering the kingdom and these are no suggestions but pre-requisites for anyone. Until they are met, your eternal life hangs on the balance.
I am not in anyway ashamed of this topic, because of the way it is impressed on me today. The reason why we are so comfortable over here is because we haven't caught a glimpse of the kingdom.
There is no sin in the kingdom, my egostic nature is dead in the kingdom, temptations are gone in the kingdom to come and worship is a spontaneous act that I don't have to fake!
If we are aware of the conditions for entering the kingdom, our minds will be set on doing them, then grace is made available to fulfil them.
EXCEPT A MAN BE BORN AGAIN
"Jesus answered and said to him, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.'" - John 3:3
I know you've heard this several times that it sounds like a song on auto repeat, but yes, except you're born again.
One of the things I would like you to note here is Nicodemus' relevant question, although he mis-interpreted the statement of Jesus, yet he wasn't so off balance. He knew to be born was more of an experience than an ideology, so he described it the only way he knew.
Being born again is more of an experience than a confession. Yes confession of faith is inclusive, but there's no genuine conversion without a change of life.
No one can see the kingdom of the Father, no one can know how heaven looks like, no one will get close to heaven, if such a one isn't truly born again.
It has nothing to do with church attendance.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." - 2Corin 5:17
We must behold and see that all things have become new, we must know that old things have passed away. This is not a matter of trying to adapt, not at all. The kingdom demands a new person not an adapting person.
Though we are all work in progress till we get to heaven, yet no one doubts whether a child is a new born if indeed it is. Though the child isn't matured and still learning, yet we know that this is a new born child.
The experience of being born again is obvious to the new born and also to the people who will behold. Don't worry, the womb of the world automatically passes away immediately you are born...but we must see that you are indeed born again.
The process of maturity will be, being born of the water and of the spirit, but you must desire the experience and not just a fluke of a moment.
EXCEPT YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS EXCEEDS....
"For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven." - Matt 5:20
The Scribes and Pharisees in our time are Christian traditionalist who insist on the doctrines of men above the commandments of God. They don't desire a higher walk with God, they are just satisfied with the coldness of religious activities.
Hello sir and ma, your walk of righteousness must exceed the mediocrity and one-eye religion of the scribe. Your walk of righteousness must at all times exude power and the wisdom of your righteousness must bear children for all to see, as wisdom is justified by her children.
The scribes and Pharisees of our time will go the length to bind men in the doctrine of selfishness, unfounded traditions and a limiting or inhibiting of the Spirit of God in the lives of men.
Your righteousness must exceed this, because it is no where near the kingdom pattern and it will definitely not lead anyone into the kingdom.
"Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity." - 1Tim 4:12
We must begin to set the pace, a pace that exceeds the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees. We must clearly show a mark and become the example of the new order of righteousness.
Paul said, great is the mystery of godliness, hey, my friend that mystery of godliness must begin to ooze out of us like fragrance that all men will perceive, as we are the fragrance of Christ to men who are saved and to those perishing (2Cor 2:15)
Don't allow anyone intimidate you because of the new revelations you've found in the scripture through the Holy Spirit, don't allow church elders shut you up because you speak in unknown tongues or because you are not speaking the manual word for word.
Your life also must not be hypocritical as the Scribes and Pharisee, this is the bane of their walk, they know the truth but they are hypocrites. You must walk the commandment with integrity and submission to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
The kingdom is not for jokers or conformists, it is for those who exceed and excel in righteousness! The kingdom is not meat and drink, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost!
EXCEPT YOU BECOME AS LITTLE CHILDREN
"and said, Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no miss enter the kingdom of heaven." - Matt 18:3
Before God we must continue to see as ourselves as children and not 'spiritual giants', we must become teachable and forgiving as little children unless we become rebellious.
To become as little children does not in anyway imply we become childish, but it is a demand to be childlike, easily corrected, converted and counselled.
The day we see ourselves as adults before God, that's the day we take the exit path from the kingdom of heaven. Please, I beg you, humility is key to enjoy grace for the race, humility is key to obtain mercy before the throne, humility is key to stand before the king in His glory, humility is key to receive favour in the presence of the Father!
"Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him." - 1John 3:1
The Lord must continually see us as children and we must always long to be same before Him as it is a rare privilege. The Lord does not wean us as independent beings before Him, no one should be too old for the chastening of God.
The prodigal son's immaturity became exposed because he sought independence, he didn't know that His inheritance was the Father and not in possession, he wanted to show and spite the Father that he was old enough... O, what a costly error. But thank God for mercy.
We must become as babes and remain thus to inherit the kingdom of God.
CONCLUSION: Though there are many conditions as per living the kingdom life here, but the above conditions are clearly given if we want to enter that kingdom of Jesus.
God bless you and I love you
Akinsuroju Femi
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