Acts 14:22 “… strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. ‘We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,’ they said.”
The church thrives in hard times and flounders when things are going well. The church grows when it’s worth dying for and withers when it’s a country club. That’s one of THE reasons the more “conservative” churches that understand what it takes to reach today’s culture do so well. They make strong demands on their members in terms of commitment and behavior. They are unafraid to be honest about the commands that Jesus imposed (they were commands, not suggestions!). Rather than advocating an easy faith, they echo Paul’s and Barnabas the Encourager’s words, “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.”
Faithfulness in the kingdom makes demands on our lives. It’s not convenient, it’s commitment. Kingdom Integrity means living up to what you say you’re going to do by when you say you’re going to do it. That means showing up for meetings. It means getting the ministry tasks and chores done on time.
Kingdom life demands sacrifice:
Giving TIME to not just get the ministries of the church done, but to get the ministries of the church done with excellence.
Using your TALENTS and skills to expand the effectiveness of the church.
Giving your TREASURE not as a tip but giving sacrificially to ensure the ministries of the church continue and improve and expand (tithing is the minimum mark of faithfulness).
Sharing your TESTIMONY – what Jesus has done and is doing in your life – so that others may participate in the misery and hardships of the faithful Christian life.
MISERY?!?
The fact is, if Christianity isn’t impinging on your life … if the sacrifices you’re making aren’t making you uncomfortable … then there is more work and more sacrifice to give before you. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” Jesus warned his apostles with the words, “A servant is not greater than the master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also” (John 15:20). There is not a single example in the New Testament of someone whose life suddenly got better when they became a faithful follower of Jesus. Instead they were persecuted, they were imprisoned, they were impoverished, they were slandered, they were banished, and they were put to death. But they “suffered it all with joy” (James 1:2, 2 Corinthians 8:2, et al) because the calling to be a Christian is worth suffering for. Indeed, it’s worth giving your life for.
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