Understanding the Kingdom of God

                            This chapter taken from the book When Faith Came by Franklin Whittenburg © 1998-2006

        But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you”(Matthew 6:33).

     Herein this following passage lays the FIRST key to the kingdom of God, which is the GIFT of righteousness. Please read the chapter “Law or Grace?” for a more in-depth study on the gift of righteousness.

     Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are new. And all things are of God, who hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him (2 Corinthians 5:17-21 KJV).

 Second thing, what is the kingdom of God?

    For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost (Romans 14:17 KJV).

     This is something that must be experienced. Righteousness, peace and joy are states of being that are opposite condemnation, anger, and sadness. You can tell people that you have righteousness, and peace, and joy, but if you don’t truly have it, then that will eventually manifest in the fruit that your life bears. A natural man cannot bear spiritual fruit (Galatians 5:22 KJV)! A pastor can tell me, “ you now have the Holy Spirit” all day long after I said my “sinners prayer” or after they laid hands on me, but if I am not bearing any spiritual fruit, then I know deep down something is wrong. I had a Church of God pastor hit me on the forehead three or four times at a revival while telling me “You Got It!”, You Got It!”, “You Got It!”. I went home that night and “I didn’t Got It!”.

Third thing, Where is the kingdom of God?

     And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and 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 (Luke 17:20,21 KJV).

    The abundant life and the kingdom of God that the Bible is talking about in this verse is on the inside and allows you to go through the tribulation on the outside (natural world), where you will experience trials and sufferings (I John 4:4). Please read the chapter “Baptism of Fire” for the explanation of this suffering.

     These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (John 16:33 KJV).

     What I was always seeking first through the gospel was to get to Heaven when I die and not to experience the peace and joy of a personal relationship with Jesus in this world. If you have to die a physical death to have a relationship with Jesus, then you worship a god of the dead and not the living.

    I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine (Matthew 22:32,33 KJV).

   There is a kingdom of God in the spiritual world that is also referred to in scripture as the “kingdom of heaven” that I want to explain how it is entered also. Please read the chapter “The Spiritual World” for a more in-depth study of the “kingdom of heaven”.

    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. And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God (Luke 13:28,29 KJV).

But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God. And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem (Luke 9:27-31 KJV).

     How do I enter the kingdom of God in the spiritual world? You must be born of the Spirit first. You have to become a man-child. Please read the chapter “The Christian Experience: From Seed to Saint” for a deeper explanation of this.

    At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not ENTER into the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:1-3 KJV).

    He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God (John 1:11-13 KJV).

      Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 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. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (John 3:3-6 KJV).

    Many in the church today are running around claiming to be doing “Kingdom work”. What exactly is “Kingdom work”? Simply, it is the attempt of the church to establish the “kingdom of God” on earth.

     And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth (Luke 11:2 KJV).

    And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven (Matthew 16:18,19 KJV).

   Is such a thing possible? As we have read in the first part of this chapter, we know through scripture that the kingdom of God can be accomplished on the earth in the individual believer through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Luke 17:20,21 KJV). What about establishing the kingdom of God in power on earth? Why would Jesus tell the disciples in Matthew 6:33 to seek a kingdom FIRST that Paul later would say that “flesh and blood” cannot inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 15:50 KJV). Apparently establishing the kingdom of God first in the heart of the believer gives access to the “kingdom of heaven” in the spiritual world. Instead of “flesh and blood”, could “flesh and Spirit” inherit the kingdom?

      And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them (Luke 24:36-43 KJV).

 There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:45-57 KJV).

 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever (1 Peter 1:23 KJV).

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you (Romans 8:11 KJV).

    Jesus said that He has given Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven. You need to know just what are those keys are because any true Christian also has access to those very same keys, not just Peter as I will show you!

     And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven (Matthew 16:15-19 KJV).

    The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath (Proverbs 15:24 KJV).

    Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: (Gal 1:3,4 KJV).

     If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God (Colossians 3:1-3 KJV).

    As we have seen, the first key that the Christian has been given is the gift of righteousness through faith in the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus Christ. Now because of Jesus sacrifice on the cross of Calvary, we have permission to enter the kingdom of God.

     Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11 KJV).

    Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which HE hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water (Hebrews 10:19-22 KJV).

   The SECONED key for entering in the kingdom of God is the Key of Knowledge.

    Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the KEY OF KNOWLEDGE: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered. And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things: Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him (Luke 11:52-54 KJV).

     But what kind of knowledge is the key? As we just read earlier, we know that we have to be born again by the Holy Spirit to enter into the kingdom (John 3:5,6) so that would mean that the Key of Knowledge is “spiritual knowledge”. Please read the study, “WHO ARE YOU? Spiritual Wisdom, Knowledge, and Understanding”, for a much deeper explanation of how to attain this deeper spiritual knowledge. Paul explained what this deeper spiritual knowledge is nicely in 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 KJV.

     Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.  For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:6-16 KJV).

   Once you have the spiritual knowledge to enter the kingdom of God you also get spiritual wisdom because that is the principle thing that teaches you how to use the spiritual knowledge and spiritual understanding also.

    Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her (Proverbs 4:5-8 KJV).

   Once you have entered in the kingdom of God, you can now eat of the tree of life! But just what is the tree of life?

    My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace (Romans 8:6). She is a TREE OF LIFE to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her. The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew (Proverbs 3:11-20 KJV).

    Through faith we understand that the worlds (natural and spiritual) were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear (Hebrews 11:3 KJV).

     Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, (Ephesians 1:15-18 KJV).

    And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. (1 John 5:20 KJV).

    For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; (Colossians 1:9,10 KJV).

     As you can see by Proverbs 3:18 KJV, the “tree of life” is wisdom and the tree is located in the paradise of God (Revelation 2:7 KJV).

    He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God (Revelation 2:7 KJV).

  Did Paul ever get to eat of the wisdom of the tree of life in the “paradise of God”?

    It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory.  I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.  I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful (not allowed by the law) for a man to utter (1 Corinthians 12:1-4 KJV).

     And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us (Acts 6:8-14 KJV).

    And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him, Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place (Acts 21:27,28 KJV).

     Whereof I (Paul) was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: (Ephesians 3:7-11 KJV).

   As I explained in the chapter “A Word of Warning”, when I was in a cell / small group church, I first heard the phrase, “discussing doctrine causes division”. As you can see by all these scriptures, if you throw sound doctrine out of the church and “embrace all faiths”, and focus on praise and worship ministries, you also throw out every true key to the Kingdom of God! In fact ignorance is even a mark of a beast (Psalms 73:22 KJV)! Without sound doctrine you have nothing left that is truly “Christian”.

    The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew (Proverbs 3:19,20 KJV).

     But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee WISE UNTO SALVATION (tree of life Proverbs 3:18) through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works (2 Timothy 3:13-17 KJV).

    Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in KNOWLEDGE after the image of him that created him: (Colossians 3:9,10 KJV).

   Satan deceived Eve into believing that the tree of the “knowledge of good and evil” was actually the “tree of life” (wisdom Proverbs 3:18) after God told Adam that the tree of the “knowledge of good and evil” was actually the “tree of death” (Genesis 2:17 KJV)! It is very dangerous to have knowledge, but no wisdom on how to use that knowledge. Which tree are you eating from? Please read the chapter “Freewill vs God’s Sovereignty”.

      But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die (Genesis 2:17 KJV).

     And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden (Genesis 3:4-8 KJV).

   But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ (2 Corinthians 11:3 KJV).

   In fact God gave man the path back into the kingdom, hidden in the curse that was placed on Adam!

   And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return (Genesis 3:17-19 KJV).

   God cursed the earth for Adam sake, but later God removed the curse from the earth for Noah.

      And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease (Genesis 8:20-22 KJV).

    Later through faith in Christ the curse from man was removed also. Under the curse, Adam had to earn a living from toiling in the earth. When Jesus Christ came that changed.

     Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you (Matthew 6:30-33 KJV).

    The first step on the path back into the kingdom of God is death (Romans 12:1) and resurrection (Colossians 3:1-3), but instead of dying in Adam, we die in Christ. You have to get passed the Cherubims (angel) with the flaming sword guarding the entrance. The mercy seat under the Cherubim’s was where the sacrificial blood was poured. The victory over death is through death (cross of Calvary)! In fact, the Kingdom of God can be summarized as the place where life overcomes death.

    And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27 KJV).

    For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive (1 Corinthians 15:21,22 KJV).

     I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I LIVE; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain (Galatians 2:20,21 KJV).

     For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith (Romans 1:16,17 KJV).

     And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead (Colossians 2:10-12 KJV).

   Also you can see by the curse that was placed on the woman, the spiritual newbirth process to enter back into the kingdom of God also contains suffering.

    Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee (Genesis 3:16 KJV).

    And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, 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 KJV).

    My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, (Galatians 4:19 KJV).

    Part of the curse also placed on woman was that her husband should rule over her. The Christian also is submitted to Jesus Christ as the head and He rules over us. Please read the chapter “Marriage: Till Death Do us Part?” for a deep study into the marriage union.

    But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God (1 Corinthians 11:3 KJV).

    But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing (newbirth), if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety (1 Timothy 2:12-15 KJV).

    The “good news” that I am going to share with you in the rest of this book is it is not your job to get yourself into the kingdom of God. That is the ministry of Jesus Christ alone.

       “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:” (Colossians 1:13 KJV)

      Jesus Christ is the door by which you leave yourself. The Holy Spirit is the porter that opens the door to the kingdom of God within (John 10:3)(Luke 17:21). This is the victory of the Gospel. It is not about what you do, but about what He has done for you. You are within the kingdom of God or without the kingdom of God. The reason that I wasn’t experiencing the victory in Jesus, after I said my “sinner’s prayer”, is because I kept trying to fight a battle that had already been won! The victory over sin is won by faith. The obedience will follow the faith. Jesus is the only way I found of entering in the Kingdom. All I can do is point you to the door (Jesus) and tell you how I entered in, but I cannot open the door for you. But He can! The calling that I spoke to you at the beginning of this testimony is actually a knock at the door. You don’t have to be a “God chaser” like some think to find Jesus, because if you are feeling that knock, He has already found you.  

    And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how HE had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles (Acts 14:27).

   Will you answer the door? I finally did, as I will share in my testimony.