“The Keys of the Kingdom”

“The Keys of the Kingdom”

 

“I will give you the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth is already bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth is already loosed in Heaven.”  Matthew 16:18-19

 

This announcement by the LORD JESUS CHRIST, was made at the time He had asked His Disciples, “Who do you say that I am?”  And of course, Peter QUICKLY and CORRECTLY answered; “You are the MESSIAH, the Son of the Living God.”  And that is when Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter, or the GREEK form is pronounced: Petros, which means: STONE. Then Jesus announced that “upon that ROCK He would build His Church, and ALL the POWERS of HELL will NOT CONQUER IT.” Then He told Peter, “I will give you the KEYS of the KINGDOM of HEAVEN.  Now, let us look at these KEYS.

 

KEYS was a symbol of AUTHORITY.  So, Jesus told Peter that he would possess the KEYS of the KINGDOM, and he would be ABLE to BIND and LOOSE people.  To BIND and LOOSE is to RESTRAIN and SET FREE.  Peter received his INSTRUCTIONS from HEAVEN, because the BINDING and LOOSING FIRST began in HEAVEN.  So, Peter was FOLLOWING God’s DIRECTIONS.  This BINDING and LOOSING was seen in Peter’s life on the DAY of PENTECOST, when he had the PRIVILEGE to PREACH the GOSPEL and ANNOUNCE to ALL that RESPONDED in SAVING FAITH that their SINS were FORGIVEN.  This SAME privilege was given to ALL the Disciples.  

 

BINDING and LOOSING doesn’t mean that you can PULL GOD’S STRINGS and He will be under YOUR CONTROL.  First of all, it MUST BE in ACCORDANCE with the WILL of GOD.  You are able to ONLY BIND and LOOSE what has ALREADY been BOUND and LOOSED in HEAVEN.  

 

The Church is to USE the Keys of the Kingdom, which are:  HEAVEN’S VIEWPOINT and SPIRITUAL RESOURCES on matters.  The USE of THE HOLY WORD of GOD, and PRAYER.  We who have once been BOUND by SIN and LOOSED by the PRECIOUS BLOOD of JESUS, should keep in mind that ANSWERS to PRAYERS are not ONLY for our benefit.  They are for the BENEFIT of others.  We are CALLED to be a BLESSING.  Are YOU a BLESSING?  And do YOU POSSES the KEYS to the KINGDOM of HEAVEN? 

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to JESUS, then you FALL short of being a BLESSING, and you DO NOT POSSES the KEYS to the KINGDOM.  But you ARE HEADED for an ETERNITY in HELL with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE once you are there.  In order to be UNBOUND and LOOSENED, you MUST DO THE FOLLOWING:  First, ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER, in NEED of the SAVIOR, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, the SON of the LIVING GOD.  Then you MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART that JESUS DIED for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  You MUST CONFESS your SINS to Him and ASK Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then be WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL LIFESTYLE, and TURN TO GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and be a part of the CHURCH that JESUS BUILDS, and RECEIVE the KEYS of the KINGDOM of HEAVEN. Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON !!!  Don’t be LEFT BEHIND