Assemblies of God Empowered Magazine PRESSING INTO THE KINGDOM | Page 4

PRESSING INTO THE
KINGDOM OF GOD
Ps ILIAFI ESERA A/G NZ SUPERINTENDENT

N

No one unintentionally becomes a Christian.
I have never spoken to anyone who

accidentally or casually wandered into a life

lived under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and

by chance found a passion to serve Him.

the result of a series of incremental decisions that remain
life-long, with eternal significance! From the moment we
our hearts, the kingdom of God (the
domain where Jesus is Lord) draws

the hearts of grateful blood washed

believers into the service of their new
Redeemer/King. Isaac Watts, the

hymnist, captured this ‘pressing in’

in his beautiful hymn ‘When I survey
the wondrous cross’, in the line; “…

Love so amazing, so divine, demands

my soul, my life, my all”. Jesus taught
about this kingdom dynamic in two

were still in sin’s debilitating grip, given over to our lower
nature, He loved us, got involved with us and wrestled

conversion the opportunity to pursue God and get to know

Him, (Philippians 3:10) to actively unwrap the gift of salvation
(Philippians 2:12) with intentional purpose while seeking a

specific place in our churches where we can serve. God has

“While we were still
in sin’s debilitating
grip, given over to our
lower nature, He loved
us, got involved with
us and wrestled our
rebellious hearts
to Himself.”

well known but difficult passages:

“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the

kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it

by force” Matthew 11:12. NASB. “The law and the Prophets
were until John. Sinc