Pressing For The Kingdom!

Pressing For The Kingdom! Pressing for the Kingdom: God has called us to access and live in His Kingdom. There is something inside each one of us that is crying out” Is this all there is? Many of us (even Christians) have just decided to settle for less. Many are driven. In the world we see the drive for something more bring people to desperation. Many are found dead, overdosed, depressed, desperate for love, seeking some kind of peace (prosperity of soul and body).

I am not worthy: If God provided righteousness (right standing with God and man) at the cross then why do men feel so often that they must improve themselves to be acceptable to God? They want to come to Christ but don’t because they can’t seem to get it right no matter how hard they try. Understand that the righteousness God gives us at the cross, gives us access to God. Then and only then are we able to live righteous by His grace (spiritual enabling power for all we face in life). God has made you worthy and able to live in His Kingdom. Rom 14:17-18 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. NKJV

Peace & joy are just some of the products/fruit of living in the Kingdom of God. Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. NKJV

We produce fruit because we are led by the Spirit/living in the Kingdom not so we can live in the Kingdom. Jesus gives us the right to live in the royal realm which is His Kingdom. This is a Spiritual Kingdom being manifested miraculously in our daily lives. If the righteousness belongs to Christ and is a gift to us, we are not able to have the fruit without the grace of God which is given to us after we accept the righteousness which comes from Christ’s finished work on the cross. If this is all true?

WHAT MUST I DO TO LIVE IN THE KINGDOM DAILY?

PRESS FORWARD BY HIS FAITH TO SIMPLY KNOW HIM!

7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

TODAY. LET US ALL TOGETHER LIVE BY HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND PRESS ON (Forward)! To live in the fruit that comes by being led by His Spirit in His Kingdom!Rev 1:4-8 John, to the seven churches which are in Asia:Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Current Family Update: I awake to the wonderful face of my lovely Bride. We began today with our staff prayer meeting and it was followed by our weekly staff meeting. It seems odd to have our Master Commission gone, but our hearts are with them as they travel the country ministering. God really blessed our ministry by a donation of about fifteen hundred dollars in Christmas tree stands. We won’t realize the benefit of that donation until next Christmas but we are very grateful. Jon and I met Marlene to pick them up and were blessed by much more than we expected. All three of our children had wonderful days at school and they were very excited to tell us all about them. Jet was excited about the football game at recess, Haley was excited that she got to go help the younger classes today. Lauren was very excited that one more of her friends are coming to BTI Winter camp. We had a wonderful evening together, loud and wonderful. There isn’t much better that playing games with my family at home! God has truly blessed me. Be blessed and let God love you as you press forward!