ATTAINING TO KINGDOM STATURE

ATTAINING TO KINGDOM STATURE

The first thing we need to touch when studying about the Kingdom of God is the fact that it is a condition entirely WITHIN the heart of every individual believer, instead of an earthly government which endures for a thousand years. We must forget about those things that resemble our earthly governments, for, as Jesus said,
“The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold,
the kingdom of God is WITHIN YOU. Luk 17:20-21

IT WILL BE NOTHING LIKE ANY GOVERNMENT WE SEE IN THE WORLD TODAY.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL CHRISTIAN HAS OR DOES NOT HAVE, DEPENDING ENTIRELY UPON WHAT THE LORD SEES IN THEIR LIFE.

WE EITHER MEET HIS REQUIREMENTS, OR WE DON’T. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH OBTAINING, OR MAINTAINING, SALVATION. THAT IS FREE!

Let’s look at a few of the requirements for attaining to Kingdom Stature.

Mal 3:2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:
Mal 3:3 And he shall sit as A REFINER AND PURIFIER OF SILVER: and he shall purify the sons of Levi (the He Goats before the flock), and PURGE THEM AS GOLD AND SILVER, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness (rectitude).

Luk 13:24 STRIVE (agonize) to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
Luk 13:25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
Luk 13:26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.
Luk 13:27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. (those who do whatever feels good to the flesh)
Luk 13:28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the KINGDOM OF GOD, and you yourselves thrust out.

Act 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation (LIT. pressure) enter into the kingdom of God. (Most of the pressure is from within our own hearts)

Luk 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.

2Co 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
2Co 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

2Ti 4:6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
2Ti 4:7 I have fought (agonized) a good fight (agony), I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
2Ti 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness (equitable character), which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Phi 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the HIGH calling of God in Christ Jesus.

HIGH CALLING-- Used in a COMPARATIVE sense, contrasted to other levels. The verses following indicate that whatever level of Spiritual Maturity we have attained to, we should walk in that level, regardless of what others are permitted to do.

“OTHERS MAY--- YOU CAN NOT”

Co 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
1Co 9:25 And every man that striveth (agonizes) for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
1Co 9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly (straight for the finish line); so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
1Co 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection (weary it) (make it my slave): lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. (unfit for the task at hand, but not necessarily a lost soul)

Phi 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness (EQUITY OF CHARACTER), which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

2Pe 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot (morally unblemished), and blameless (in His Sight).

Contrary to popular opinion, ALMOST ALL of the New Testament is dedicated to INSTRUCTIONS AND QUALIFICATIONS for entrance into the Kingdom of God, rather than to SALVATION.

The Sermon on the Mount has been called “THE CONSTITUTION OF THE KINGDOM, because it is primarily instructions about how to conduct our lives AFTER WE ARE SAVED. We have made it A REQUIREMENT FOR SALVATION.

Little wonder, then, that people flee from our Churches in fear. We preach a message of CONDEMNATION instead of CONFIDENCE in His Love and Power to Save.

Wasn’t it Jesus who said, “Take my yoke upon you, and LEARN OF ME?” “Ye shall find REST FOR YOUR SOUL.

If my understanding is correct, we DO OUR LEARNING AFTER we have put our trust in Jesus, rather than before. LEARNING IS A PROCESS, NOT AN EXPERIENCE.

1Pe 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

Isa 28:9 Whom shall he TEACH KNOWLEDGE? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. Isa 28:10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

According to the parable of Jesus, the seed that fell on the good ground produced varying results—some thirty, some sixty, and some an hundred fold. See Mar 4:8

The successful life of a Christian, then, is NOT a set of rules and regulations—“do’s and don’ts” but a life of following the teaching of the Holy Ghost in His work of defining the Will of God to each individual, as the Lord pleases.

Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.

It is the WORD OF GOD (the SEED) that produces the increase in our lives. It performs the MIRACLE of TURNING DIRT INTO FRUIT.

2Pe 3:18 But GROW IN GRACE, and in the KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.

Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:
Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Mal 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

The “little Sister” who “hath no breasts” (saved, though undeveloped) might not make it into the Kingdom. What a shame. see SONG 8:8