We must PRESS into the kingdom ?

Luke 16:16 - "The law and the prophets were until John(came)" :

This verse probable means something like this; 'You make your boast about the law and the prophets, you Pharisees, and you do well to honor them. But you forget that the dispensation of the law and prophets was only intended to pave the way for the better dispensation of the kingdom of God which was t be ushered in by John the Baptist. That dispensation has come. John has appeared. The kingdom of God is among you. While you are ignorantly deriding me and my teaching, multitudes of tax collectors and sinners are forcing(pressing) their way into the kingdom. Your boasting is not good. With all your professed zeal for the law and the prophets, you are utterly blind to that kingdom into which the law and the prophets were meant to guide you.'

Matthew 11:12 - "And from the days of John"...That is, from the time that John had fulfilled his ministry, men rush into my kingdom with a violence like that of those who are taking a city by storm.

Note:

There are 3 common views about the meaning of this verse.

1. Jesus may have been referring to a vast movement toward God, them momentum of which began with John's preaching.

2. He may have been reflecting the Jewish activists' expectation that God's Kingdom would come through a violent overthrow of Rome.

3. Or he may have meant that entering God's Kingdom takes courage, unwavering faith, determination, , and endurance because of the growing opposition leveled at Jesus' followers.

Israel 1- There is a "press" that we as Christians do, but it's a good fight of faith, it is an enduring to the end! That scripture came to mind "The race isn't given to the swift or to the strong" - it's given to the one that endures and holds on ... I won't give up, I won't turn around I am going to Hold On!(the end part was from a song our choir use to sing). The fight is the fight to keep the faith, yes there is a struggle, but it is only because the enemy(the devil) is going about seeking whom he may devour and is trying to deceive even the very elect of God's people IF it were possible, but we believe and have faith that God will keep us and we press toward the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus. The good news is in Revelation were we see that we win, because Christ has won the battle for us!

Anyway, while looking up that scripture I came across a sermon and copied some of it for you below and gave you the website if you want to read the rest. It is called "Stay in the Press". just what your question is talking about. Hope this helps, I know it is alot to read...sorry, Robin

The word of God says that the race isn't given to the swift or to the strong but it's given to the one who ENDURES to the end! Rejoice because you're not finished with your journey and in the words of the poem, "you have miles to go before you rest..." Those who came before you went through worse and still never gave up! As a matter of fact, you have to remember that you have greatness coursing through your veins and it's going to take some time for the dream to manifest but keep on keeping on!

Stay in the PRESS---You're closer today than you were yesterday so don't quit! Stay in the Press---many that came before you died but you survived! Stay in the Press---Work your dream until there is nothing else to work! Believe in your vision until others around you believe it as their own and by all means KEEP HOPE ALIVE! As long as it's alive there is still yet the ability for the dream to MANIFEST! So, stay in the PRESS!

P -Prayer; Believe it or not, prayer changes your perspective of things and allows you to see differently the people around you.

R -Rejoice in Advance; Although the situation may not change immediately, Keep your spirit up because your spirit can change the atmosphere around you.

E -Expect Anything; At this point, believe and know that anything can happen at anytime. It's all about expectation. If you put it out there you may hook up to your hook up at ANY GIVEN MOMENT!

S -Share the dream/vision with others; If you don't speak it you won't give others an opportunity to be apart of the blessing that God is getting ready to manifest in your life!

S -Stay Strong; The race is given to those who Endure even in difficult times!

Context and understanding dispensations is everything when it comes to interpretation. As in this instance, Jesus was talking to Jews. They were expecting Him to set up His kingdom. When He was rejected, attention was turned to the Gentiles. The Church was started and a whole different scenario began ... the building of the Church which includes both Jews and Gentiles.

As members of the Body of Christ (Church Age saints), we are not looking for the kingdom to be set up. Our great expectation is the Rapture where we will be with the Lord in heaven until He does set up His kingdom and again returns His attention to Israel. We are now living in a gap period while the Church is being built and the Lord deals with Israel again. The Scripture references you make hold no point for the Church Age saints.

Matthew 11:12 The sense of this verse may be rendered this way. "The kingdom presses ahead relentlessly , and only the relentless press their way into it." Thus again Christ is magnifying the difficulty of entering the kingdom.

Luke 16:16 Everyone is pressing into it. (Cf. Jer. 29:13) While the Pharisees were busy opposing Christ, sinners were entering His kingdom in droves. The language of this expression speaks of violent force -- probably signifying the zeal with which sinners were seeking with all of their heart to enter the kingdom.

I hear this and receive this word! More later! This is strengthening to our spirits...Thanks so very much for this insight!

Some people don't see everything as a spiritual battle. They may be still in the struggle of believing in Christ! But I am glad for this question you posted! What you have said here to me is that when we discuss the deeper things of the Lord, we need to give more in our answers. WE don't only believe in Christ, we must press forward as we are fighting violence in our spirits

Interesting question.

I think that it is because we need to be interested & press in & ask God question. And there are spiritual battles along the way.

That means that it isn't easy to obey Jesus & answer the Masters call. We need to press in because we believe Gods Word over what every may come against us.

Sure !

I am a Citizen of the Kingdom of God and yet I live here !

I find myself in troubled times and pressing toward the Kingdom !

Saved ?

Yes !

Having an easy go of it ?

Not even close !

Believing on Jesus Christ is called redemption or being born again. It is the first step in the Christian life. Sanctification is the next step. A careful biblical study of these two doctrines will answer this Question. Time and space will not allow me to fully expand on these two crucial doctrines, but it will answer your Question.

Who the F are these Luke and Matthew guys?

It is spiritual warefare by principalities, not a physical one.

I only have one question.....

What the hell are you talking about?