STRIVE TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD: Text: LUKE 13:22-30 Intro: There was a question raised here, “Are there few who are saved?” This question could be a “who and who” question. Instead of directly answering this question, Jesus taught them how to enter the kingdom of heaven.

AIM: For us to strive in entering the kingdom of God. I. REASONS WHY WE HAVE TO STRIVE-V 22 Narrow is the gate Entrance into it accepts no lesser than being born again We also strive against sin and Satan Jesus is the only way to the kingdom of God and there is no other-John 14:6 Many will seek to enter and will not be able Illustration: Wimbledon tennis tournament

Many seek but they didn’t strive They rest in lazy seeking They have a good mind to happiness They a good opinion of holiness They take some good steps towards both. But their convictions are weak They do not consider what they know and believe Consequently, their desires are cold Their endeavours feeble, and there is no strength or steadiness in their resolutions Thus they come short, and lose the prize, because they do not press forward.

There is a time limit for acceptance: The door will be shut The door of distinction between carnal professors and spiritual professors who go beyond the veil The door is shut to separate between the precious and the vile, that sinners may no longer stand in the congregation of the righteous. The door of mercy and grace has long stood open to them, but they would not come in by it. If we’re not in when the doors are shut, we will be out forever.

II. REASONS WHY STANDING OUTSIDE -V 25 They were praying to the Lord for the doors to be opened for them They knocked as if they had authority to enter or they belong to the house Rev 3:20 "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. If we had opened our hearts to the Lord and allowed Him to reign in us, our life itself is the kingdom of God. He told them, “I do not know you.”

He also told them I do not know where you are from. You are not of me You are not from above You are not branches of my house, of my vine Mat 3:8 "Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, Mat 3:9 "and do not think to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as [our] father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.

III. THINGS THAT WOULDN’T COUNT ON THAT DAY-V 26 They say we ate and drank in your presence Jesus came eating and drinking with the sinners but the question is do we learn from Him? They also said, “You have taught in our streets.” He taught them to strive in His teachings Remember the last court of appeal? These things don’t count if the purpose wasn’t achieved.

IV. MAIN REASON FOR REJECTION FROM THE KINGDOM- V 27 He doesn’t know them and where are they from. They were workers of iniquity Mat 7:23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness! The Lord told them to depart from Him They’ve got nothing from Him. It is the hell of hell to depart from Christ Mat 25:41"Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:

V. THE SEVERITY OF THEIR PUNISHMENT There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth When you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God That the sight of the saint’s glory will be a great aggravation of sinner’s misery They shall thus far see the kingdom of God that they shall see the prophets in it, whom they hated and despised, and themselves, though they thought themselves sure of it, thrust out. This is that at which they will gnash their teeth,

VI. THE ONES ENTERING THE KINGDOM-V 29 They come from the east and the west, from the north and the south and sit in the kingdom of God They had passed through different climates Had broken through many difficulties and discouragements. This shows that they who would enter into that kingdom must strive, as the queen of Sheba, who came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon.

They who travel now in the service of God and religion shall shortly sit down to rest in the kingdom of God. Many who stood fair for heaven came short, and others who seemed cast behind, and thrown quite out of the way, will win and wear this prize, and therefore it concerns us to strive to enter. Luke 13:30 "And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last."

CHALLENGE: Are you striving in entering the kingdom of God? What difficulty are you facing? Do you think it’s worth to strive? If the doors of heaven is shut now, are you in? CONCLUSION: Luke 13:24 "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.