I would like to begin this article with a very familiar Scripture in Luke 9:62, “Jesus said to him; "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

 

I want us to note that phrase “fit for the kingdom of God”. This statement is what informs the subject of this article. There is such a thing as being fit for the kingdom or not being fit for the kingdom? The criteria or necessary condition Jesus gave here is; when you put your hand to the plow, you don’t look back. So, what makes a man fit for the kingdom or what makes a man not to be fit for the kingdom? It is the willingness to either look back or not look back.

 

Do you remember the instruction that was given to Lot and his wife? Jesus said as far as the kingdom is concerned those who put their hands to the plough, those who desire to follow me, those who are willing to be part of His kingdom do not look back. What does “look back” mean? Is it the literal looking back that we know? Look at the example of Lot’s wife; it is simply a matter of instruction and obedience. Looking back could be distractions, looking back could be giving of excuses, looking back could be looking away from Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.  

 

Jesus speaking here said no man, woman, or anyone putting his hand to the plough and looking back is fit. So, what does fitness mean? Fitness means eligibility, suitability, appropriateness or the state of being qualified.  When the word fitness is mentioned, it relates to meeting a standard or requirement. It means to be competent or being qualified for a particular task or endeavor.

 

I came to realize that the reason why athletes train is so that they could meet the required standard of fitness to be able to favorably qualify to compete either in tournaments or competitions. As it is for athletes, so it is for the disciples of Christ.

 

So, fitness in the course of my discussion in this article is to give us an understanding as to what we must be conscious of even as we follow Christ.

 

Contextually, Jesus was speaking to the fact that different groups of people gave excuses as to why it is impossible for them to come follow after Jesus. In the previous verses before Jesus made this statement, He said foxes have holes, birds have nest but the Son of man have no where to lay His head. Jesus was simply saying forgo, let go of everything and come after me. Apostle Paul describes this requirement as counting all things as dung for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus.

 

So, what makes a man not fit for the kingdom is excuses. Excuses that seem logical, giving excuses for the things that we desire to give attention to.  But Jesus ssaid; "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

 

While I was meditating on this Scripture, I was wondering why Jesus made this statement. There could be many reasons why Jesus said that; but fundamentally, Jesus made that statement for this reason;

 

2 Timothy 4:5 says – “But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry”. The reason why you are in excusable is because, you must fulfill your ministry. You could say I am not called into ministry. But the truth is that we have all been given a ministry. If you will succeed or fulfill that ministry, you must first follow Jesus, disregarding the things of this world that may seek for your attention just as Jesus also seeks for your attention.

 

Imagine a scenario where a people who are being led out of captivity and bondage in Egypt looking at the onions and the garlic of Egypt. Imagine Abraham haven departed from his home country desires to still go after the gods of the country God instructed Him to depart from.

 

Did the Scripture not say, Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and every other thing will be added to you?

 

So, what does it mean to put your hands on the plough and looking back?

 

Looking back begins from being full of excuses, being distracted with other things yet desiring to follow after Jesus. When you read the previous verses before this verse; they all desired to follow Jesus, there was a willingness; I noticed when they are done saying Lord I will follow you, then they said but let me go and bid my people farewell, let me go and bury the dead. It means, not totally given to Jesus. When Jesus began to call His disciples, the moment He says follow me, what happens is that they will “immediately abandon what they are doing.” There was no struggle. See what Peter said to Jesus. We have abandoned all. Did you see that? If you cannot abandon all, you cannot be fit for the kingdom.

This means that if we can get rid of excuses and immediately abandon everything, we will serve God wholeheartedly.

 

So, what are the other things that makes one unfit for the kingdom?

 

#. Number One: The inability or lack of willingness to fight a good fight of faith. What does this mean? It means throwing in the towel too early, it means giving up, to forsake, to quit, to abandon etc.

Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 4:7 says – “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” See what apostle Paul said here. He began by saying; “I have fought a good fight of faith” then he said “I have kept the faith”. You can’t keep the faith if you cannot fight a good fight of fight of faith. Meaning that fighting a food fight is the precondition to keeping the faith. And if you can keep the faith, you can finish the race.

 

Then in verse 10 Apostle Paul said; (2 Timothy 4:10) “For Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica--Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. Did you see why Jesus was absolutely correct when He said no one putting his hand to the plough and looking back is fit. You can’t serve two masters at a time.  The moment you begin the love the pleasures of this world you are already looking back. Putting your hand to the plough is not the problem, the problem is trying to combine the two. Jesus said it is impossible you will love one and despise the other.

 

Jesus said No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. Note this word “and looking back”. It means where you are looking and what you are looking at is what defines your fitness in the kingdom. If you look back, you are simply not fit for the kingdom, but if you look unto Jesus the author and the finisher then you are fit for the kingdom.

 

We began by identifying excuses as foundational to being unfit for the kingdom. But here, there is something else Jesus is saying. What brings the looking back is lack of resilience which is a function of what I call “No vision is running you.” 

 

The inability to fight a good fight of faith is a function of lack of vision. Or not being able to see the joy that has been set ahead of you. This is why faith is very important. You walk by faith and not by sight. Meaning that faith is required for spiritual sight. When you see someone fighting a good fight of faith, underneath there is a vision that is running such a person. Is it possible for one to see the joy, the glory yet not see it as worth fighting for? This is what I also call the Esau syndrome.  Because of momentary pleasure; the pleasures of this world which is passing away is embraced and the treasures, the joy which is more valuable and precious is abandoned or despised just for a morsel of meal or for a pot of stew.

 

Another word for loving this present world is keeping up with the trends, being distracted by the glamors, the glitters that looks like gold yet far from it, the glories of this world that passes away, flowing with the multitude, inability or lack of the willingness to stand out.

 

 

Putting hand on the plough and looking back is the same as drawing back to perdition. And it is a function of depletion of faith; when faith is depleted, then there won’t be any reason to fight a good fight of faith.

Let's look at Hebrews 10:39. It says; “For we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.” (NKJV)

The Amplified version puts it this way. It says; “But our way is not of those who draw back to eternal misery (perdition) and are utterly destroyed, but we are of those who believe [who cleave to and trust in and rely on God through Jesus Christ, the Messiah] and by faith preserve the soul.

There is a direct correlation between faith and being fit for the kingdom. If your way is the way of cleaving, trusting, and believing in Jesus, you are fit for the kingdom. But if you draw back and become unfit if you don’t acknowledge, trust believe or confess or profess Him as your Lord and savior.

 

So, how do I keep my faith in check so that I can be fit for the kingdom?

 

Look at the promises: the joy through the eyes or the lens of faith. Bible says the just shall live by faith. Peter was looking unto Jesus and he walked on water. The moment he began to look at something else he began to sink.

 

Look at the word written concerning you. What you see? Concerning your future what do you see? Concerning your ministry what do you see? When you look at God's idea, plan or blueprint for your marriage what do you see? Do you see Jesus? Looking unto Jesus

 

#. Number Two: Repentance and brokenness: That is, turning away from evil ways, as a result of repentance through the instrumentality of the conviction of the Holy Spirit and being cut to the heart by the word of God. Repentance and brokenness come by constant evaluation and examination of one’s self in the light of God’s word. The bible says, The word of God is quick and powerful. It is sharper than any two double edged sword and it is the discerner of the thoughts and the intents of a man’s heart. A heart that the word of God cannot penetrate is a heart that is not fit for the kingdom. When your heart is a heart of stone it is resist the word of God, such a heart cannot be directed or taught, led transformed by the word of God.

 

#. Number Three: Being mindful of the things of God. Jesus said to Peter, you are an offense to me. You are not mindful of the things of God but of the things of men. And let me add, you are mindful of the things of the flesh and common sense. What are the things of God? The things of God is the will of God. The things of God are the things that pleases God. To be fit for the kingdom is to be full of the knowledge of his will. And being full of the knowledge of His will requires wisdom by the Spirit; the teaching of the Spirit. Being in alignment with the purposes of the Father.

 

#. Number Four: Discipline. What does this mean? It means bringing yourself under control. It means submission to the authority or Lordship of Christ by following the necessities or the set of rules laid upon you by the Holy Spirit. Apostle Paul said I put my body under subjection so that having ministered to others I myself will not be a cast away. In another place he said, all things are lawful for me, but not all things are expedient. (1 Corinthians 6:12). He said, I have learnt to abound and to abase.

 

The Bible says concerning Daniel. And Daniel purposed in his heart not to defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat. The essence of discipline is the resoluteness not to defile oneself or violate consecrations or rule of life. Once you become aware of your rule of life or your consecration, your willingness to be faithful and diligent to be guided by those principles is what I see discipline to be. This consciousness helps you or brings you to a point where you mortify or crucify the flesh or die daily. The reason is because you are not living for yourself but for Christ. So, therefore you fight every appearance of the flesh until the Spirit gains control. This is what it means to be full of the Spirit.

Apostle Paul said I am crucified with Christ, never the less I live for the life I now live in the flesh I live it by faith in Jesus the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

 

#. Number Five: Refill Constantly. This talks about complete and total reliance on grace. Every new phase, every opportunity, every responsibility, every assignment requires a certain level of grace to be able to accomplish it effectively. The Bible made us to understand that the disciples of Jesus prayed for the filling of the Holy Spirit and the place they gathered was shaken. These were the same people that cloven tongues of fire sat upon each one of them. Yet they needed another dimension of grace. The Bible says He gives power to the weak and those who have no might he increases their strength. Refilling constantly means to be full of the Spirit, to stay under God in his presence and to rely on Him in everything.

 

What does it take to be refilled and led by the Holy Spirit?

#. Being a son that abides and not a harling.

#. Being under the control and influence of the Holy Spirit.

#. Hunger and thirst. This means you are simply a God chaser, your soul longs after God as the deer pants after the water brooks. Hunger is synonymous to fire, zeal, passion and energy. If you lose your hunger, you are simply going towards the zone of being unfit. This consciousness will help you stay fresh, fit and relevant. And until you are thirsty you cannot be filled. The Bible says blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled. Until there is a hunger, water won’t be poured on your thirsty ground. Being fit for the kingdom is to hungry and thirsty for God.      

#. Being a waiter. To tarry in His presence until you are endued with power.

#. Giving yourself to reading and investing in your mind. Stretch your mind by feeding it with the right knowledge. When you determine to be, and become exceptional, there are many handwriting you will be called to interpret like Daniel. If knowledge will be found on your lips, it is because you give yourself to books and to study. There is an understanding that comes by the books. The Holy Spirit will only teach you to the degree of the capacity of your mind. Meaning that you can only understand a concept the Holy Spirit is teaching to the degree of how much information your mind has about that thing. When you are given to this, you are fit for the kingdom.

 

#. Number Six: Those who are fit for the kingdom are ready in season and out of season. To be ready in and out of season is not be at ease in Zion; you are being up and doing, you restless until God’s purposes and counsel is executed. Your advantage is that you are like the sons of Issachar, you have understanding of the times and seasons and you know what you ought to do, and you are found doing it diligently and patiently and passionately. Jesus said, I must do the work of the one who sent me while it is yet day for the night comes when no man can work. Being fit for the kingdom is to be ready in and out of season. The Bible says in 2 Timothy 4:2 - Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

 

#. Number Seven: Give yourself wholly to the truth. This means conformity to reality and correctness or accuracy. Your ability to discern Jesus as the light you require to see. Jesus made us to understand that He is the truth. This means that if we can accurately or correctly conform to Jesus, there is a reality we will come into. It is called glory; Becoming like Him.

 

If you give yourself to the truth, you will be rooted and grounded in love, in faith and in doctrine. You can’t be deceived or swayed by every wind of doctrine. The question is, who is your teacher, your mentor, your shepherd? Giving yourself wholly to the truth is to make Jesus your teacher, let Him teach you via His Spirit. Because His words are Spirit and life and they have the capacity to make you fit for the kingdom. so, you must know the truth concerning everything the Holy Spirit wants to teach you in the kingdom.

 

But there is a problem Apostle Paul identified and outlined for us to look into in 2 Timothy 4:3. It says; - “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 - and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”

 

Apostle Paul mentioned a word in this verse called “sound doctrine” Giving yourself wholly to the truth is to endure sound doctrine. How do you endure sound doctrine? By not turning your ears away from truth. There is no truth in fables. If the Holy spirit is your teacher, you can’t imagine the kind of growth you will enjoy under His tutelage. And a growing disciple or believer is a believer that is fit for the kingdom.

Thanks for the gift of your time, We are Apeh Francis Abah and Benedicta Apeh!

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