We’ve camped out on Matthew 5:20 for quite a bit of time. And the camping trip continues this week J.

There are many ideas out there about entering into the Kingdom (basileia) of heaven and there are many facts to this reign. We’re extending our camping trip on this verse for a very significant reason…we need to see more facets to gain a better understanding. We have examined the two different kinds of righteousness that Scripture expresses. We have examined why Yeshua said what He did about the Pharisees of His day. We have examined that the word for Kingdom = ruling and reigning. We have seen with limited vision that entering the Kingdom comes at a cost.

This morning I want to continue that thought from the Apostle Paul’s mouth. In Acts 14:22 Paul states, ‘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 Elohim.’

Paul lived what he taught. Acts 14 testifies to that (it’s worth the read) and worth imitating Paul as he imitated Messiah (1 Cor. 11:1; Eph. 5:1,2).

Paul lived letting go of the past, living the present to the fullest and never losing sight of the prize at the end of the journey. All throughout his writings we see this theme to spur us onto maturity in Messiah! In Acts 14:22, he models and teaches that it’s only through much tribulation that we enter into the Kingdom, the rule and reign of Elohim.

2 Tim. 2:12, following his beautiful discourse on discipleship (vv. 1-11), states, ‘If we suffer, we shall also reign with him. If we deny Him, He will also deny us’.

Paul gleaned his conclusions from Yeshua, who at the end of His discourse on explaining what the Kingdom is, that those who have followed Him, when He returned in the regeneration that they would rule and reign (Matt. 19:28,29).

Romans 8:17 tells us that if we are children, then we are heirs, heirs of Elohim and joint heirs with Messiah if so be that we suffer with Him that we may also be glorified together with Him.

When we suffer at the hands of those around us, it is for the glory of the Most High! In doing so, it’s also the evident sign of perdition for the persecutor (Phil. 1:28) and simultaneously the suffering is for your deliverance. As unnatural as this feels, Paul emphasizes that it is our calling! Not only have we been given the privilege of believing on His name, but also suffering for His sake (Phil. 1:29). Huh?

We’re called to suffer? Yes.

Paul continues this theme with the model church in Thessalonica. ‘So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of Elohim for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure: which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of Elohim, that you may be counted worthy of the Kingdom of Elohim, for which you also suffer. Seeing it is a righteous thing with Elohim to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; and to you who are troubled rest with us, when our Master Yeshua shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty Angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not Elohim and obey not the gospel of our Master Yeshua Messiah (2 Thess. 1:4-8).

1 Pet. 2:21 says, ‘For even here were you called: because Messiah also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow in his steps.’

He goes onto say, that we should be glad when we suffer for Messiah Yeshua’s sake. ‘But rejoice, inasmuch as you are partakers of Messiah’s sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Messiah, happy are you! For the Spirit of glory and of Elohim rests upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified.’ (1 Pet. 4:13,14).

The people who take this uncompromising position to identify with Yeshua’s walk, proclaim His lifestyle, not cower to the pressures of the enemy, they will find themselves ruling and reigning with Yeshua in His Kingdom. ‘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 Yeshua, and for the word of Elohim, 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 Messiah a thousand years.’ (Rev. 20:4)

On the flip side, if we deny Him, He will deny us from that position (Matt. 10:33). If we are ashamed of Him today, Yeshua will be ashamed of us when He returns with His holy angels (Mark 8:38).

For this reason the Apostle Paul, in one of my favorite chapters, said that he leaves the past behind and presses on for the prize of the high calling in Messiah Yeshua (Phil. 3:1-14). Ironically, in the middle of this powerful discourse he says, that he wants to know Him in the fellowship of His suffering in order that He might be part of that select group on resurrection day (Phil. 3:10,11).

I know many of you are experiencing a lot of ‘stuff’ these days. Suffering to whatever degree is still suffering. My prayer for you this morning was and is that you’d walk through the ‘gobbely gook’ that the world throws at you and do it with a smile on your face, taking it patiently and bringing honor to the One Who gave His life for you.

Endure to the end, my friend (Matt. 10:22)!

Shalom in the midst of the trial-filled journey (1 Pet. 1:5-9)! He will not share His glory with another (someone who hasn’t walked His walk), but He will share it with those who have (1 Pet. 5:1-4; Matt. 16:27)!

Alan