Paying the Price

As we press into this Kingdom Move of God, one thing we must be cognizant of is that there is a Price to Pay in order to receive the Kingdom of God. Salvation is free. But it cost the Father His only begotten Son and it cost Jesus His Life. So salvation may be free for us as believers, but it was very costly to God. However, with the Kingdom, there is a price that we have to pay; and the question is, are you ready and willing to Pay the Price.

Jesus says in the fourth chapter of the Book of Revelation, "I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire". There is a cost to discipleship. There is a cost to reigning with Christ (Romans 8). There is a cost to receiving and advancing the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in Heaven. One of the reasons why we don't witness more of a manifestation of the Kingdom of God in the earth realm is because we don't have more believers willing to pay the price to bring the Kingdom down from the Heavenly Realm. There's a price to pay in order to access that dimension. This is why Jesus says to us "count the cost" (Luke 14). There is a price to pay for the manifestation of the Kingdom of God.

One of the costs that has to be paid is the Cost of Sacrifice. If you're going to follow Jesus and be an instrument and vessel of His Kingdom Advancement in the earth, you're going to have to sacrifice. You're going to have to Sacrifice your Self. You're going to have to sacrifice your pleasures, your wants, your desires, your preferences. That's why Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, "not my will, but Thy Will be done" (Luke 22). You're going to have to pay the price of crucifixion of the flesh with the affections and lusts (Galatians 5). You may have to sacrifice your reputation, sacrifice your status-quo. You may have to sacrifice your career. You may have to sacrifice certain relationships, particularly with family and friends. But if you're going to be a witness of God for the manifestation of the Kingdom of God, you're going to have to make a major sacrifice to do so.

Lastly, you're going to have to pay the Cost of Suffering. This is where many believers, including preachers and ministers, draw the line. We don't mind believing in the Lord Jesus, and we don't mind serving Him. But it's another thing when we're called to Suffer for Him. However saints, there's no getting around the challenge of having to pay this price. Many of us avoid this cost because Suffering automatically entails Pain. I mean, who in their right mind wants to willfully endure pain and that which they know is going to hurt? That's why the scripture says, "let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2). The natural mind won't be inclined to suffer for Christ, but the supernatural mind will. The scripture also says, "for even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps" (1Peter 2). The days of convenient Christianity are over. God is putting together His army that's going to be supernaturally empowered to usher in a Kingdom Revolution that's going to impact the world for generations to come. The question is, are we willing to Pay the Price to be the witnesses and workers thereof.