Keys To The Kingdom

Matthew 16:13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

14 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.15 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God. 17 Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. 18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’),and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”

Let's take a look at these verses of scripture.

Verse 13: Jesus questioned His disciples, who do people say that I am?   Jesus knew what people were saying, but He wanted His disciples to understand how and who was influencing them.  We cannot allow just anyone to speak into our lives and influence us.  We must be His disciples and influenced by those He has place over us in the Lord.  We must submit ourselves and be taught by mature, seasoned leaders.  Just being saved is not enough.  After being saved, we must surrender and submit ourselves to be taught and made disciples.  There are not many true disciples of Christ around these days!  Very few people are willing to be submitted to leadership and made a disciple.  

To a large extent there are a lot of prideful, arrogant young believers who have heard a couple teachings on television and think they know everything.  Many of these young believers spend time with everyone except Father, Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit!  How sad, flesh and blood has become more important than spending time with God!  That my friend is a modern day tragedy!  What are humans really saying about Jesus?
 
Verse 14: John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, one of the other prophets.  All of their human comparisons were wrong and far from the truth!  Many people know too much about non-essentials and things too little about essential thing!  They knew stuff about the prophets and preachers, but very little about Jesus Christ!  Many of us know the facts about a human, but very little about Jesus! Jesus Christ must once and for all be our focus!  Study Jesus!
 
Verse 15: They were disciples of Jesus Christ.  He was teaching and training them.  Were they focused?  Were they listening?  Were they learning? Were they applying His words to their lives?  So He asked them a question.  Who do you say I am?  What do you know about Me?  What is your assessment of Me?  I can almost hear the silence of those who compared Him to mere flesh and blood!
 
Verse 16: One man spoke up! Peter! you are the Messiah, the Son of the living God! Peter did not see Him only as the son of man, he saw Him as Messiah, Savior, the anointed one, Son of God!  Only one man (Peter) knew Him!  That is why the enemy desired to sift Peter as wheat.  Peter knew Him as Jesus Christ and the devil did not want Peter to reveal Jesus Christ to others!
 
Verse 17: Jesus called Peter blessed! Why?  Because he knew Jesus Christ the Messiah, the Son of God!  Peter did not depend on human flesh only, He looked beyond humanity, the natural and into the supernatural!  Seek father and He will reveal His Son Jesus Christ!  Know Jesus! Peter’s revelation came from the throne room of heaven.  Peter was focused, listening, learning and applying!  Peter set his affection on things above and walked right into the presence of Father God! Father God revealed Jesus Christ to Peter!  

When Jesus Christ asked, who do you say that I the son of man am, immediately Peter knew! Peter referred to Him as Father God had revealed Him!  Peter saw Him as more than son of man.  Peter saw Him as the Messiah, the son of God!  Get this: Peter knew Jesus Christ as Messiah, the Son of God before Pentecost, before Holy Spirit came to earth on that glorious day! That’s powerful! Time spent in the presence of God is not wasted!  
 
Verse 18: You are Peter!  Jesus revealed to Peter the nature of his name. Peter means rock.  On the foundation of that revelation (revelation of Christ) the church is built.  The church is not built on Peter!  The church is built on Christ the solid Rock!  We grow as get the revelation of Jesus Christ!  We are the church of Jesus Christ!  Our lives are hidden with Christ in God!  When we really KNOW JESUS CHRIST, we may get shaken and the powers of hell may come against us as God’s people but God’s church will never be conquered!  Know Father, Know Jesus Know Holy Spirit!  Worship Jesus! Live in Jesus!  Be strong in His might!
 
Verse 19: Knowing Jesus Christ is essential!  When we know Him and is known of Him, we are positioned to be trusted by Him!  He gives us keys (access) to His Kingdom!  We don’t just give the keys of your house to everyone!  We entrust our keys to those we know and trust!  The keys of the Kingdom are available to those who have pressed in and have a relationship with Father, Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit!
 
Binding and loosening must be done by the believer here on the earth.  Binding and loosing are keys.  These keys place us in positions of authority.  We use these keys to permit or to forbid!  We use these keys to lock and to open!  Keys unlock doors of opportunity for us, but they also lock doors against whatever opposes us!  Many things have been permitted that should have been forbidden!   Heaven is waiting on us to make our move!  Binding and loosing are the keys that are made available to us as citizens of the kingdom. There are keys healing, peace, joy, prosperity, a fresh anointing, ministry opportunity. Get heaven’s keys!