feb 18-24-07 to enter god’s kingdom

To Enter God’s Kingdom

Matthew 19:13-30 MSG One day children were brought to

Jesus in the hope that he would lay hands on them and pray

over them. The disciples shooed them off.


14 But Jesus intervened: "Let the children alone, don't

prevent them from coming to me. God's kingdom is made up of people like these." 15 After laying hands on them, he left.


Just a quick review of what we’ve already learned. We

must become like children to enter God’s Kingdom. Jesus always loves the pure heart of

a simple child.


16 Another day, a man stopped Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what

good thing must I do to get eternal life?"

17 Jesus said, "Why do you question me about what's good? God is the One who is good. If you want to

enter the life of God, just do what he tells you."


18 The man asked, "What in particular?"

Jesus said, "Don't murder, don't commit adultery, don't steal, don't

lie, 19 honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as

you do yourself." 20 The young man said, "I've done

all that. What's left?"


21 “If you want to give it all you've got," Jesus replied, "go sell your

possessions; give everything to the poor. All your wealth will then be in

heaven. Then come follow me." 22 That was the last thing the young

man expected to hear. And so, crestfallen, he walked away. He was

holding on tight to a lot of things, and he couldn't bear to let go.


23 As he watched him go, Jesus told his disciples, "Do you have any

idea how difficult it is for the rich to enter God's kingdom? 24 Let me tell you, it's easier to gallop a camel through a needle's eye than

for the rich to enter God's kingdom."


Let’s take a moment to think about this. What constitutes being rich?

Would you not think we are considered very rich in comparison

to most of the world? If that is true and we are rich do we have a

chance of entering God’s Kingdom?


RICH, 1. Wealthy; opulent; possessing a large portion of land, goods or money, or a larger portion than is common to other

men or to men of like rank. A farmer may be rich with property which would not

make a nobleman rich. An annual income of 500 sterling pounds would make a rich

vicar, but not a rich bishop. Men more willingly acknowledge others to be richer,

than to be wiser than themselves. (Websters)


As I read this it seems to me the meaning of rich is relative in

comparison to a person’s peers. The Apostles bring up this same question and Jesus

gives them an answer.


25 The disciples were staggered. "Then who has any chance at all?"

26 Jesus looked hard at them and said, "No chance at all if you think you can pull it off yourself. Every chance in the world if you trust

God to do it."


A rich man’s struggle to get into God’s Kingdom is hampered

by his trust in what he physically possesses. His

monetary wealth won’t buy him into God’s Kingdom.


His stature in the community will not influence his entry into God’s

Kingdom. His wealth of knowledge will not reason him

into God’s Kingdom. Having faith and trusting in God will lead you

into God’s Kingdom.


27 Then Peter chimed in, "We left everything and followed you. What

do we get out of it?" 28 Jesus replied, "Yes, you have followed me. In the re-creation of the world, when the Son of Man

will rule gloriously, you who have followed me will also rule, starting

with the twelve tribes of Israel.


29 And not only you, but anyone who sacrifices home, family,

fields--whatever--because of me will get it all back a hundred times

over, not to mention the considerable bonus of eternal life.

30 This is the Great Reversal: many of the first ending up last,

and the last first.


Do you think Peter needs to pray for help in his unbelief? Do we see a

bit of greed? We now see a fundamental doctrine of belief in

Jesus. If there is anything we love more than Jesus, who by the way gave His life for us, we will fall short of entering paradise with

Him.


But, when we do show our love for Him by discarding our love of family, of material possessions, or what ever

we may love, and replacing what we’ve set aside by our willingness to follow and serve The Lord Jesus, we are promised the reward will be great.

A hundred times over what we’ve given up not to mention the

considerable bonus of eternal life.


Jesus tells a story to simply show how depending on earthly wealth

can not save you.Luke 12:15-21 MSG Speaking to

the people, he went on, "Take care! Protect yourself against the

least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even

when you have a lot."


16 Then he told them this story: "The farm of a certain rich man produced a terrific crop. 17 He

talked to himself: 'What can I do? My barn isn't big enough for this harvest.' 18 Then he said, 'Here's

what I'll do: I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones.


Then I'll gather in all my grain and goods, 19 and I'll say to myself, Self, you've done well!

You've got it made and can now retire. Take it easy and have the time of your life!'


20 “Just then God showed up and said, 'Fool! Tonight you

die. And your barnful of goods--who gets it?' 21

“That's what happens when you fill your barn with Self and

not with God."


Fill your life up with God, not wealth and riches. Material things won’t do you a bit of good when you die, but the

Love of God will! Jesus continues in this same line of

thought.


Luke 12:22-59 MSG He continued this subject with his

disciples. "Don't fuss about what's on the table at

mealtimes or if the clothes in your closet are in fashion.


23 There is far more to your inner life than the food you put in your

stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you

hang on your body. 24 Look at the ravens, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description,

carefree in the care of God. And you count far more.


25 “Has anyone by fussing before the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? 26 If fussing can't even do that, why fuss at all? 27 Walk into

the fields and look at the wildflowers.


They don't fuss with their appearance--but have you ever

seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed

men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.


28 If God gives such attention to the wildflowers, most of them

never even seen, don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for

you?


29 "What I'm trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so

preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God's giving. 30 People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these

things, but you know both God and how he works.


31 Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions.

You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. 32 Don’t be afraid of missing out. You're my dearest friends! The

Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself.


33 “Be generous. Give to the poor. Get yourselves a bank

that can't go bankrupt, a bank in heaven far from

bankrobbers, safe from embezzlers, a bank you can

bank on.


34 It’s obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is,

is the place you will most want to be, and end up being. 35

“Keep your shirts on; keep the lights on!


36 Be like house servants waiting for their master to

come back from his honeymoon, awake and ready

to open the door when he arrives and knocks.


37 Lucky the servants whom the master finds on watch! He'll put on an apron, sit them at the table, and

serve them a meal, sharing his wedding feast with them. 38 It doesn't matter what time of the

night he arrives; they're awake--and so blessed!


39 "You know that if the house owner had known what night the burglar was coming, he wouldn't have stayed out late and left the place unlocked. 40 So don't you

be slovenly and careless. Just when you don't expect him, the Son

of Man will show up."


41 Peter said, "Master, are you telling this story just for us? Or is

it for everybody?" 42 The Master said, "Let me ask

you: Who is the dependable manager, full of common sense, that the master puts in charge of his staff to feed them well and on

time?


43 He is a blessed man if when the master shows up he's doing his

job. 44 (SEE 12:43) 45 But if he says to himself, 'The master is

certainly taking his time,' begins maltreating the servants and maids, throws parties for his

friends, and gets drunk,


46 the master will walk in when he least expects it, give him the

thrashing of his life, and put him back in the kitchen peeling

potatoes.


47 "The servant who knows what his master wants and ignores it, or

insolently does whatever he pleases, will be thoroughly thrashed. 48 But if

he does a poor job through ignorance, he'll get off with a slap on

the hand. Great gifts mean great responsibilities; greater gifts, greater

responsibilities!


49 “I've come to start a fire on this earth--how I wish it were

blazing right now! 50 I’ve come to change everything,

turn everything rightside up--how I long for it to be finished!


51 Do you think I came to smooth things over and make everything nice? Not so. I've come to disrupt and confront! 52 From now on, when you find five in a house, it will be—Three against two, and

two against three;


53 Father against son, and son against father; Mother against

daughter, and daughter against mother; Mother-in-law

against bride, and bride against mother-in-law."


54 Then he turned to the crowd: "When you see clouds coming in from the west, you say, 'Storm's

coming'--and you're right. 55 And when the wind comes out of the south, you say, 'This'll be a hot

one'--and you're right.


56 Frauds! You know how to tell a change in the weather, so

don't tell me you can't tell a change in the season, the God-season we're in right now. 57

“You don't have to be a genius to understand these things.


Just use your common sense, 58 the kind you'd use if, while being taken to court, you decided to settle up

with your accuser on the way, knowing that if the case went to

the judge you'd probably go to jail 59 and pay every last penny of the fine. That's the kind of decision I'm

asking you to make."


It all boils down to this. While there is still time, make the

decision to seek God’s favor. We can’t put our trust in

anything else in order to have eternal life.

feb 18-24-07 to enter god’s kingdom

Spiritual