We are continuing our study on the keys of Heaven. Previous lessons are below. Just scroll down.
May the Lord increase your strength and ability to move forward and advance in prayer. No weapon formed against you will prosper. May the Lord prosper your ministry of reconciliation. Be strong and courageous! God is on your side.
Read Matthew 16:13-20
"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." Vs. 19
Jesus and His church are one. He is the King of a superior Kingdom that rules over all. See Psalm 103:20. The Church are first and foremost citizens of that Kingdom and when our assignment is over we will return to that magnificent place. But even while here on earth, we are called to pray from our heavenly seat as one in Christ Jesus. Read Ephesians 2:1-9. We are a peculiar people!
We are sent on a mission to enforce God’s will over sin and darkness so that people may be blessed with His goodness. We are also citizens of the United States. We have dual occupancy—dual citizenship. We have rights and privileges that each birth right guarantees.
Our Father did not send us on our assignment without providing Kingdom direction and Kingdom provision. Nor are we ever alone in our work.
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10.
“I will build My Church…I will give you the keys of the Kingdom…”
Evidently the building of The Church relies on powerful keys from the Heavenly Kingdom.
The New Creation—Kingdom Citizens Who Have the Ministry of Reconciliation
“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
2 Corinthians 5:18-20
God did not send us out on assignment without a supply from His Kingdom.
Power Provision
I hope you have made a list of what you think those keys are. This is a wonderful and powerful study that can affect how you live and work for God while on this earth.
The Keys of Heaven
We have previously studied two keys on my list:
- The Word of God
- The Name of Jesus
Next Power Key: The Holy Spirit
Can the name of Jesus operate without the Holy Spirit? I don’t think so. Why? Because He is the power source. Jesus needed Him to heal the sick and cast out demons.
"…how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” Acts 10:38
There is very much to say about this glorious Person: God’s Holy Spirit. We will look at some of His main attributes.
He is the Builder of The Church. Why? Jesus said one cannot be born again without Him. It is the Person of the Holy Spirit that embraces the sinner to help him be born again. See John 3:1-8. "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
Jesus’ Departure—Our Advantage?
Jesus said it is to our advantage that He go away. In fact, the Holy Spirit could not come until Jesus left. He said the Father would send the Holy Spirit in His Name!
See John 16:7.
The Holy Spirit is:
- Your Comforter
- Your Counselor
- Your Helper
- Your Intercessor
- Your Advocate
- Your Strengthener
- Your Standby
- Your Teacher
- The Reminder of Jesus’ words
The Advantage
When Jesus walked the earth He helped many people. But when the crowds went home, they went home without Him. We’re different! The Holy Spirit, and all that He is, filled our inner man on the day of our new birth. You and I were born of Him. We will never be an orphan again and we will never be alone. He’s there with us in every step we take, in every part of this life. He is forever undeniably faithful to us. He’ll always help us and lead us into triumph and victory…if we’ll hear and obey.
Baptizer
"I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Matthew 3:11
When you received Him as the Baptizer with fire, His might was released in you. “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you…”
See Acts 1:5, 1:8, and Acts 2:1-4.
The Greek word for power is dunamis. This is where we get the word dynamite from. Think of the Holy Spirit as the all mighty power Source that can cause demons to flee in fright! He and The Word of God are the sword of the Spirit: God’s armor given to us for power, protection and advancement!
His initial indwelling when you were born again was increased and expanded when you were baptized in Him and spoke in tongues. See Acts 19:1-7.
A Bit of Humor
This Baptism is hard to put into words but one word came to my mind, “volumized,” which was not found in my dictionary. But the word voluminous is. It means: of great volume; large; extensive; abundance; sizable; massive. Which makes one wonder how God can squeeze Himself into the spirit of man? Selah…
The Revealer—John 16:1-15
Jesus said, God’s Spirit:
- Convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment.
- He is the Revealer of truth and will guide us into all truth.
- He speaks only what He hears.
- He reveals things to come.
- He will glorify Jesus for He takes what belongs to Jesus and gives it to us.
"This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.” Acts 2:32-33
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit—1 Corinthians 12
Diversities of gifts, differences of ministries, diversities of activities, but the same God works all in all. The manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all…as He wills.
“Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.”
The Fruit of the Spirit—Galatians 5:22-23
Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Some teachers say this is the “fruit” of the Holy Spirit. Other teachers say this is the “fruit” of the reborn spirit. I tend to think that the “new creation man” could not produce these living attributes without the abiding fullness of Him that is all good.
There is much more to say about the Holy Spirit. I found 93 verses in the New Testament that speak of Him. You may want to study about Him even if you have walked with Him for 80 years! He wants us to seek and inquire after Him. This is how He reveals more of Himself. Saints, there’s much, much more to know!
Prayer, Weakness, and The Helper
“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses.
For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
Romans 8:26-28
Lean on Him to guide you as you pray for your cities and counties. He was sent to help Kingdom Ambassadors enforce God’s will on earth. Your Spirit-led prayers can prevent much destruction. Never underestimate how powerful you are in Him.
THE CHURCH —THE LOST—OUR LEADERS