DANCING AROUND THE GATES OF HEAVEN

'And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.' - Mark 12 vs 34

• Thou art not far from the kingdom of God

The above statement was a reply the Lord gave to a certain scribe. That statement depicts that the man was not in the Kingdom of God, but he was not far from it.

Beloved, the Spirit of God opened my eyes and began to show me the case of men who are around the Kingdom, but are not in the Kingdom: they are workers in Church, they sing our songs, amazingly they speak our language, they are close to the Pastor, the give to the Pastor, they are blessed by the Pastor, but in God's books, they are not members of Heaven. See how the Lord described them;

'[24] Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: [25] But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. [26] But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. [27] So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? [28] He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? [29] But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. [30] Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.' - Matthew 13 vs 24 - 30 {KING JAMES VERSION}

Observe verse 30, Let both grow together until the harvest. That's what's taking place in the Church today; the unrighteous are gathered together with the righteous, satan's children are mixed together with the people of God, you need to be accurately discerning to know that they are not all the people of God - they are all workers in Church, they do Church things, so they are assumed to be all Christians. But,

'Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.' - 2 Timothy 2 vs 19 {KJV}

• The Lord knoweth them that are His

In all the activities of Church and religiosities, the Lord who watches over everything and sees the hearts of men knows those who belong to Him. The Apostle went forward and told us the true mark that differentiates God's children from satan's children, he said;

• And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity

God's children estrange themselves from sin! satan's children indulge in sin deliberately; they know within themselves that they are not of God, they know that they are not like God's children, their conscience bears them witness, and they will not be surprised if they landed in hell! they know they don't belong to God yet! but they will be in the next workers' meeting anyway! - Think about it

The Lord said in another place,

'Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.' - John 8 vs 34 - 35 {KING JAMES VERSION}

• Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin
• And the servant abideth not in the house for ever

The word "Whosoever committeth sin" means, 'Whosoever makes a practice of sin'. The Lord was speaking about a deliberate practice of sin. Because it's possible for a child of God to sin, but it will never be a deliberate act of his will, but it will be factored by conditions and situations, like

> Weakness

> Pressure

> Fear

> Lack of wisdom

These factors can make a true child of God sin, but it was never a deliberate intention to sin. But to deliberately device sin is the doings of the children of the devil - they are the ones the Lord was talking about. 

'My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous...' - 1 John 2 vs 1 {KJV}

• these things write I unto you, that ye sin not

The Believer is admonished not to sin. Then he says,

• And if any man sin

This shows that it is possible for a Believer to sin. And like I said, it will always be factored by circumstances and situations like I listed above; it will never be intentional or a deliberate act of the Believer's will. It's on this ground that the Apostle John said,

'Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.' - 1 John 3 vs 9 {KJV}

'doth not commit sin' here means, 'does not practice sin'. You see... It's a deliberate act of sin the Lord and the Apostles addressed. So when the Bible says "the Believer cannot sin", what the Bible says is "the Believer cannot practice sin". It's dealing with deliberateness.

So in John 8 vs 34 and 35 which we read above, the Lord said,

"...the servant abideth not in the house for ever..."

This shows that for now, the servant is in the house, but he will not abide forever. Uhmmm! They are together with us in Church: remember, the Church is God's kingdom on earth, just like we have the embassy of a nation in another nation. So, the Church of Christ is Heaven's embassy on earth. So anyone who is a member of a church is a member of God's kingdom, but not all are permanent residents of the Kingdom; some are temporary residents - and those are the children of the devil who have joined themselves with us.

'Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.' - Matthew 13 vs 30 {KJV}

• Let both grow together

If they don't repent of their sins, and cleave to the Lord genuinely, and forsake the evil of their hands and begin to learn the new life in Christ, when they die, the distinction will be made, and they will be sent to their place!

Men dancing around the gates of Heaven! They are not in the Kingdom, but they are not far from it. Uhmmm! They are around, but not in.

Beloved, this message calls for self examination! Are you truly in the Faith? Are you truly born again? or you are like that servant who will not abide in the House forever? Check yourself, and repent honestly if you see you have need to!

'Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?' - 2 Corinthians 13 vs 5 {KJV}

• Examine yourselves | whether ye be in the Faith

This is a strong admonishing! Don't waste your time playing Church only to find yourself in hell! This day, seriously check yourself, examine your heart whether you are truly a child of God! I showed you the marker, and I will show you again;

'Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.' - 2 Timothy 2 vs 19 {KJV}

• And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity

This is the standard for self examination! True salvation will always reflect in a godly lifestyle. True salvation is intentional about righteousness, and unintentional about sin! This is the marker! Beloved, examine yourself now.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

- Jenning U. Angel