Matthew 16:19 And I will give you the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in Heaven.
Born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are entitled to all the Promises, Benefits and Authority given them in the Word of God. This is true without a shadow of a doubt. However, the Promises come with conditions, the Benefits come with provisions and the Authority comes with responsibility.
Everything we have been given by God we have received by faith in Christ. In the 16th Chapter of Matthew we read of an encounter of Jesus and Peter which explains a lot about the Promises, Benefits and Authority we have been given.
When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His Disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the Prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in Heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in Heaven.” (Matthew 16:13-19)
The Disciples had been traveling with Jesus for approximately two years when this happened. They had witnessed countless Miracles, Signs and Wonders but Jesus was concerned that they knew Who He was. When He asked the question, Simon Peter spoke up and gave the right answer when he said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”
We must remember that during the life of Jesus on earth, the Law was still in effect. Their faith was in the Temple Sacrifices and in the Messiah to come. It was not until Jesus said “It is finished” and died on the Cross that the New Covenant was birthed.
On that day in Ceasarea Philippi, when Simon Peter gave Jesus the right answer, Jesus knew they believed in Who He was. It what this knowledge, belief and faith that prompted Jesus to establish the New Covenant Church and nothing could ever prevail against it.
The Pharisees and Sadducees hated Jesus and His followers because He destroyed their empire and their power over the people. Jesus knew they would do everything in their power to destroy Him and His Church, but they couldn’t do it. This is still going on today but they won’t succeed because we can stand on these Words of Jesus: the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. To be continued tomorrow……..
Faith in Jesus will……….turn the tide………in your life.
I love You Lord, Doreen
