Pressing Into the Kingdom of God

Below is but a small measure of revelation that my father had received from the Lord. I hope this will be a blessing to you. All that is written below are the words of my father.

Pressing Into the Kingdom of God

In loving memory of my father
Robert Louis (Bob) Padgett
July 28, 1931-May 22, 2023

The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. Luke 16:16

The purpose of this word is not to present a "revelation" that we might be intellectually enriched. Likewise, it is not our purpose here to present a comprehensive exposition of the kingdom of God. That would require volumes. Rather our burden is for the appropriation of kingdom substance and reality into our lives. It is to see the Church rise up out of its carnality and earth-bound condition and to fulfill its call to kingdom status.

Our longing is for the Church to grow and mature into "kingdom stature" so that a proper impact can be made on the nations and on the powers that rule them. The message of the kingdom of God is designed to become personal to each one of us. The Word must become flesh within us. Toward that end, our purpose is to try to set forth a higher vision of the Lord and His ways. "Where there is no vision, the people perish." Where there is little vision, the people are weak and sickly and many sleep (1 Corinthians 11:30). May the Holy Spirit quicken His word to us all.

The Lord wants to challenge His people! From our personal observation and experience over the past 44 years, the kingdom of God seldom has been taught. The true gospel of the kingdom seems to have gradually been watered down to make it more appealing to the natural man. Augustine once said, "If you believe what you like in the Gospel, and reject what you don't like, it is not the Gospel you believe, but yourself."

The common practice of equating the kingdom of God with being "saved" (individually) and the Church (corporately) gets us into a swamp of misunderstanding very quickly as we read the written word of God. All of the parables that Jesus spoke were parables concerning the kingdom, not the Church.

"The kingdom of heaven is likened unto.." We must look at all of the teachings of Jesus (and Paul) as kingdom teachings, for so they are. Jesus said,

Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. Matthew 11:11

For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. Luke 7:28

He that is LEAST in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he (John the Baptist). Scripturally, this is a clear distinction, since no one would question whether or not John the Baptist is in heaven!

For any kind of doctrine to stand the test, we must be able to incorporate all of Scripture. We cannot be like Christians who go through a cafeteria line and pick out only those things that "agree" with our understanding and discard the things that we do not understand or that do not agree with our understanding. We also believe that the word of God is independent of time, race, culture, geographical location, and anything else. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).

The devil tried many times to destroy the Seed of Abraham (namely Christ). When that failed, the devil then tries to prevent anyone from being born again and being part of the Church and going to heaven one day. When that fails the devil tries to blind the eyes of Christians and thus prevent them from progressing or pressing into the kingdom of God and fulfilling His Divine purpose.

Part of the problem is the use of erroneous Bible translations. For example,

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. 1 John 3:2

The logical reasoning of the natural mind says that, from the above verse, if "now are we the sons of God" then we are already in the kingdom of God. The Greek word translated as "sons" is tenon, which means a child by natural descent. Further, in the first epistle of John, John addresses the readers of that epistle as "little children" seven different times. The Greek word translated as "little children" is teknion, which is a diminutive of tenon, and is used as a term of endearment. One mature brother in the Lord recently sent me an unsolicited email in which he described the modern day Church as "still feeding on pablum."

Anyone who has qualified for the kingdom of God is, by default, in the Church; but being in the Church does not, in itself, qualify one for the kingdom. That simply gives us the power or privilege or right of authority to press on into the kingdom. The key word is qualifying. The initial salvation experience is a free gift, but the kingdom requires qualifications.

But as many as received Him, to them gave He power [privilege or authority] to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: John 1:12

No man ever pressed into being born again, for that is a gift from God. But we must press into the kingdom of God (Luke 16:16).

In the Old Testament, the Jews were "saved" or delivered out of Egypt, out of the house of slaves, out of bondage. That is prophetic, in type, of being "saved" (the initial salvation experience) or being "born again." However, only two (out of a million plus) of the adults were allowed to enter the promised land, which is symbolic in type of the kingdom of God. Moses was not allowed to enter into the promised land because of his mistake of smiting the rock twice. That should be a very sobering thought and example for us.

3 Jesus answered and said unto him [Nicodemus], Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. John 3:3, 5

In Verse 3, we cannot even see the kingdom of God unless we are born again. The Greek word translated "see" implies not the mere act of looking, but the actual perception of the kingdom. In Verse 5, being "born of water and of the spirit" is not two things, but one, namely spiritual water, as distinct from natural water. From Verses 3 and 5, above, two mandatory (but not sufficient) pre-requisites for entering the kingdom of God are to be born again and to be born (or begotten) of spiritual water (which purifies). We all know that,

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

So the initial salvation experience is a free gift, available to us by the grace of God, provided we "confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in our heart that God has raised Him from the dead" (Romans 10:9). Even there we need to be careful, because the primary condition is the grace of God. In other words, there is nothing mechanical or automatic about being born again. Being born again costs us nothing; although it cost Jesus His natural life on earth at Calvary. In the natural realm, what did we ever "do" to be born from our mother's womb? Nothing. We came forth from that natural darkness by the grace of God also.

1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,

6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, Whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

12 Whose fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor, and gather His wheat into the garner; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. Matthew 3:1-2, 5-6, 11-12

Amazing! John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Verse 5: "Then went out to him Jerusalem, and ALL Judaea, and ALL the region round about Jordan, and were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins." That certainly sounds like our Christian concept of the pre-requisite for being born again ... repent, confess your sins, and be baptized in water. But John the Baptist said that there is something (rather Someone) greater coming.

Surely, we all would agree that the Church, which is His body (Romans 12:5, 1 Corinthians 12:27, and others), consists of all those who are born-again.


13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son:

14 In Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Colossians 1:13-14

What is the power of darkness? The realm of the enemy, devoid of spiritual light. The Jews were in Egypt in spiritual darkness for 400 years. Everyone who is born again has (by definition) also been translated into the kingdom of His dear Son. What is the kingdom of His dear Son? those whom the Father has given to the Son ... the Church. Verse 14 is clearly speaking of the initial salvation experience of being born again. (See also Romans 3:24 for confirmation of that.)

Jerusalem contains two major hills ... Mt. Moriah and Mt. Zion. These two hills have served as types of what will be, in the economy of God, in the last days. Moriah and Zion represent two companies of last-day people. They are natural symbols of a spiritual reality. Natural Zion was, and still is, the higher of the two main hills in the city of Jerusalem. The natural has served its purpose. It is no longer significant. But spiritual Zion (as distinct from Israel, Judah, and Jerusalem) still represents the highest level to which we as Christians can attain. David made Zion his city (the city of David). He made it the seat of government for the whole kingdom. It is the highest you can get in the city of Jerusalem. The Lord made Mt. Moriah the worship center of the kingdom when He told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac there nearly a millenium before David made Zion the government center. What is the kingdom of God? It is the rule and government of God and by God ... first in our lives, then in all the earth. The message of the kingdom is the message of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.

Moriah represents the entire Christian community. Zion represents the overcomers. Below are a few scriptures which are applicable to the company known as Mount Zion. Bear in mind that these are people (human beings) who have received a special anointing for a special purpose.

And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the Lord's. Obadiah 1:21

When the Lord shall build up Zion, He shall appear in His glory. Psalm 102:16

The difference between the multitudes of Christians and the sons of God is described in many ways in the Bible. (We do not believe that the sons of God have been manifested yet, but certainly will be at some point in time.) One of the most outstanding differences is described in the letters to the seven churches of Asia, as recorded in Revelation, Chapters 2 and 3. It is important to keep in mind that those Scriptures, like all others, are not written to heathens or to the natural Jew, but to us, the Church. Each church was given an incentive promise "to him that overcometh." We are not automatically overcomers as a result of having been saved by the blood of Jesus. (Scripture speaks in both the Old Testament, prophetically, and in the New Testament about three types of Christians: a believer, a disciple, and an overcomer.)

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Philippians 2:12

I counsel thee to buy of Me [not a gift] gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich [toward God]; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed [with acquired righteousness], and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. Revelation 3:18

Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. Luke 13:24

The word "strive," which occurs only seven times in the New Testament, means to struggle or to agonize. We must strive to enter in to what? the kingdom of God. We must strive to enter into the kingdom because that requires that we deny our self, take up our cross, and follow Him. But there is no striving associated with being born again. Any one can be saved by simply acknowledging that Jesus is the Son of God and accepting the forgiveness that He has offered to us. 

21 And when they [Paul and Barnabas] had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,

22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. Acts 14:21-22

Paul and Barnabas were exhorting the disciples, those who were already born again believers (and more) that we (they) must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. There was no need for such exhortation if the disciples were already in the kingdom of God. Further, there is no tribulation required to be born again.

Now let us consider what some folks call "the Lord's prayer," which perhaps should more aptly be called "the disciples' prayer." Part of that prayer, which Jesus taught His disciples, says,

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10

If Christians are in the kingdom of God when they are born again, then there is no longer any reason to pray that part of the prayer. The above verse also gives a definition of the kingdom of God (which is the same as the kingdom of heaven). The kingdom of God is the domain of the King where the will of God is done. Do you think that the will of God was being done in the Church at Corinth? They were born again believers, undoubtedly baptized in the Holy Ghost, and they came behind in no gift, but they were carnal and just doing their own thing, as Paul says in 1 Corinthians.

And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. Matthew 11:12

There is absolutely no violence required to become a born again Christian. Jesus said, 

And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. Matthew 19:24

It is not a problem for a rich man to be born again; that is a free gift which costs men nothing. It is extremely hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God because it costs that man much.

Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. Matthew 7:21

Verse 21 is not a distinction between a heathen and one who is born again. The believers in the Church at Corinth were not heathens, but they were not doing the will of the Father.

Further, there are "elders" in the church (many verses affirm this), but the elders (aged men) in the kingdom of God willingly cast down their crowns before Him. 

20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.

21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His throne. Revelation 3:20-21

The above verses do not speak about a born-again experience. This is a call to the wedding feast of the Lamb (see Luke 12:35-37). Bullinger, in his Companion Bible says that, "The popular belief that the Lord is ever knocking at the hearts of sinners is a distortion of Scripture akin to blasphemy."

Now let us compare two sets of Verses in the Book of Revelation.

4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. Revelation 7:4, 9-10

The major point is that after this, i.e., after the 144,000 are sealed, Verses 9 and 10 speak of a great multitude. They are crying (because they have missed something). They are like the five foolish virgins (Matthew 25) who came and found the door shut. The door to what? to the kingdom of God. They were not shut out from heaven at a later point in time. Further they are crying "salvation" because all they have known and experienced is salvation. Now let us look at the 144,000. 

1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with Him an hundred forty and four thousand, having His Father's name written in their foreheads.

2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:

3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.

4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. Revelation 14:1-4

Whatever else the 144,000 represent, they certainly represent overcomers. (We are not concerned here with whether the 144,000 is a literal or a spiritual number.) They are virgins, meaning they are undefiled with the ways of the world ... no mixture. They are not crying "salvation;" they are singing a new song. They are in the kingdom of God, which is characterized by righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. They have the Father's name written in their foreheads. They are the firstfruits unto God. Firstfruits implies a second fruits.

 

4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. Revelation 20:4-6

The above verses give us strong incentive to want to be made into an overcomer, namely to be able to rule and reign with Christ in the millennium.

6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Revelation 12:6, 9-11

In Verse 6, the woman is the Church. Who are "they" in Verse 6? the overcomers or the remnant.

Do we want to be one who gets fed by the overcomers or remnant in the wilderness and someday is in heaven? Or do we want to be one who feeds the Church in the wilderness? Do we want to be a Christian who reigns with Christ for 1000 years (Revelation 20:4-6)? If so, we must count the cost and, by the grace of God and the power of the Holy Ghost, overcome the devil by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of our testimony, and love not our life unto the death (Revelation 12:11).

Jesus said in Matthew 16:24, "If any man will come after me..." Notice the "if." Discipleship is conditional. Not every Christian is willing to lay down his life, take up his cross, and follow Jesus. Where was Jesus headed when He said to follow Him? He was headed to the cross. We must follow Him to the cross (not necessarily physically, but spiritually).

For the preaching of the cross is to them that are perishing foolishness; but unto us which are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

Paul wrote that to the Church at Corinth (and to us). The preaching of the cross working in the lives of those who are already "born again" is the power of God, which enables us to enter the kingdom of God. Many are called but few are chosen. Perhaps more to the point, many are called but few choose.

We have greatly limited God and His kingdom by our own limited thinking. There must be a repentance ... a change of mind. We must press on into the kingdom of God. A good question at this point is, "How'"? How do we press on into the kingdom of God? The answer to every such question is first of all to see the need. If we are not hungry, then we will usually not partake of food. Like Job and Isaiah we must have a clear vision of Who the Lord is. Then we must see that we, of ourselves. can do nothing about our human nature. We can only cry out to the Lord, "Help, Lord!" Like Job and Isaiah we must repent. This repentance has nothing to do with the repentance required to be born again. Neither is this repentance because we have done or said something "wrong." Like Job and Isaiah, we must see that I am wrong! There is absolutely nothing about man that is acceptable to God.

5 I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth Thee.

6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. Job 42:5-6

1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple.

5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:

7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Isaiah 5:1, 5-7

What is iniquity? our Adamic nature.

Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth. Hosea 6:3 

19 When any one hearth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that hearth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Matthew 13:19-23

Who will press into kingdom stature to the glory of God?

When Christians begin to take the kingdom of God seriously, the world will begin to take Christians seriously, and we, like Paul and the early Church, will begin to "turn the world upside down" (Acts 17:6).

May the Lord be gracious and merciful to us all!