This is a continuing study. Previous lessons are below. Just scroll down.
Dear Prayer Partner,
May you know the exceeding grace and love of the Father of glory and of His Son Jesus Christ. May the greatness of His power be in manifestation in every step you take.
Father gave the greatest gift He had to get you. No one ever has or ever will love you more; right here, right now, and for all eternity. Embrace that love today.
We began a study of Matthew 16:13-20 last February, which has led us to focus on vs. 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." What are these keys?
My list of the Keys of Heaven previously discussed:
Previous lessons focused on:
The Belt
The Breastplate
Gospel Shoes
The Shield of Faith
The Helmet of Salvation
“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore…” Ephesians 6:13
Recap
Armor: All of God’s armor is to be used so that we may stand victorious against the enemy’s schemes and continue to move forward without retreat due to weakness and inability to fight correctly. God’s Word and His armor, which are from another Kingdom, have superior ability that works within the Believer.
To Stand: We stand in the victory Jesus has already attained. When He said, “It is finished,” it was a declaration of the redemptive work for all mankind for all eternity. Whatever we accomplish for the Kingdom is founded on His sacrifice: His death, burial, resurrection and ascension.
Continual acknowledgement of this truth will build character, strength and discernment.
Remember who you are, a New Creation who is a citizen of Heaven who has been given Kingdom rights, abilities, and authority to overcome. All of God’s Word armor is meant to protect who you are in Christ Jesus: a Kingdom created spirit, born again of incorruptible seed through God’s Word.
We are to be strong and stand in the strength of the Lord and the power of His might. And further, we are to know and experience:
“... what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
“And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins…” Ephesians 1:19-2:1
The Greater One Resides Within Us
It is through our Great Champion, the Holy Spirit, that we triumph and have victory in combat. His power far exceeds any ability that man or demon has.
We are more than conquerors as we are led by Him.
“The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light.” Genesis 1:2-3
God’s creative power was at work when He spoke, “Let there be light,” which brings us to our next mighty weapon:
The Sword of the Spirit
“…and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God…” Ephesians 6:17
I like to look at the Sword this way:
S— is for the Spirit
God’s Spirit and the born again spirit—which are one.
The Word—God’s Word Spoken in faith from a Believer…
Together they equal: the S—WORD of the Spirit!
God’s Word coming forth from the good treasure of the born-again heart, accompanied with the almighty force of the Holy Spirit, is an atomic spiritual blast of power that sends demons fleeing in confusion seven ways!
The Sword of the Spirit is the only offensive weapon.
Definition of Offensive: attacking; assaulting; aggression; charging; storming; bombarding; onslaught
This is what the devil flees from when the Mighty Word of God is sent as a SWORD with pinpoint accuracy on the target. God’s Word is alive and sharper than any two-edged (earthly) sword because it is supernatural. His Word is anointed to destroy yokes and remove burdens. See Isaiah 1:27. This is how Jesus lived in the Spirit. He also yielded Himself to do only what Father said. And it is time for The Church to do the “works that He did, and even greater.” John 14:12
How could a young shepherd boy use a rock and a sling to take down the champion of a massive army who continually abused God’s people with slander, fear and threats of annihilation? What did he say before going into battle?
“You come to me with a sword … [earthly]; I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord, [whom David leaned on], will deliver you into my hand, [faith declaration], and I will strike you and take your head from you…that all the earth may know there is a God in Israel.”
Read 1 Samuel 17.
How did Gideon and his army of 300 men, who previously were fearful, timid and weak, turn into an undefeatable, aggressive force against a multitude of enemies, that, “when the 300 blew the trumpets, the Lord set every man’s sword, (earthly), against his companion throughout the whole camp.” Read Judges 6-8.
It would seem that the victory attained was not only for David or for Gideon, but for the nation of Israel as well. Our individual assignments are doing more than we think!
The Sower Soweth the Word—Read Mark 4:11- 32
To The Church it has been given to know the mysteries of God. Jesus said if we do not understand this parable, we will not understand all the other parables, or things pertaining to His Kingdom.
Four different kinds of ground, (hearts), who heard God’s Word, had four different kinds of results. Only one type of Believer will bear fruit. Those who hear the word, accept it into their heart and actually do what it says will produce thirtyfold, sixtyfold, and even hundredfold.
The Word Choked—Vs. 20
“The cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things ENTERING IN [the heart], choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”
Satan’s goal is always to maneuver believers away from the Word in order to steal it completely out of the heart to gain further ground and cause the believer to lose his position of authority.
God’s armor is God’s Word permeating the entire being of the New Man, systemic in nature, meant to occupy the total man from the inside out.
In gardening we fight insects that attack our plants, bushes, trees, etc., by applying a systemic pesticide onto the ground which is then absorbed into the plant’s root system to prevent the plant from being destroyed by outside influences such as weeds, disease and insects. Likewise, God’s Word is “health to all our flesh.” How?
Read the Word—Meditate the Word—Do the Word
“…he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” James 1:25 Why will he be blessed?
"To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 3:21-22
The Walk
Live in the Word. Live in faith, hope and love. Forgive all. Cast all your cares on the Lord because He loves you so dearly. Resist the devil with your armor. Use the mighty Sword of the Spirit, and speak the living Word against him.
Jesus is the living Word of God! Yet, in His earthly walk, He used the SWORD against His enemy in the wilderness, (Matthew 4:1-11), and throughout His entire ministry including His sacrifice, death and resurrection.
Interesting, isn’t it, that the Sword of the Spirit is hooked to “... praying always with all manner of prayer ...” in Ephesians 6:18? (AMP)
Prayer
Father, I ask that you increase your blessings and power on this dear Saint, your Beloved child, who has a heart to see your plans come forth in the state in which they live. I ask that you give them wisdom and keep them protected. Lead all of this prayer team, Father; train us to be effective and to accomplish your desires, that the world would be reconciled to know their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
Dear Prayer Partner,
May you know the exceeding grace and love of the Father of glory and of His Son Jesus Christ. May the greatness of His power be in manifestation in every step you take.
Father gave the greatest gift He had to get you. No one ever has or ever will love you more; right here, right now, and for all eternity. Embrace that love today.
We began a study of Matthew 16:13-20 last February, which has led us to focus on vs. 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." What are these keys?
My list of the Keys of Heaven previously discussed:
- The Word of God
- The Name of Jesus
- The Holy Spirit
- Weapons
Previous lessons focused on:
The Belt
The Breastplate
Gospel Shoes
The Shield of Faith
The Helmet of Salvation
“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore…” Ephesians 6:13
Recap
Armor: All of God’s armor is to be used so that we may stand victorious against the enemy’s schemes and continue to move forward without retreat due to weakness and inability to fight correctly. God’s Word and His armor, which are from another Kingdom, have superior ability that works within the Believer.
To Stand: We stand in the victory Jesus has already attained. When He said, “It is finished,” it was a declaration of the redemptive work for all mankind for all eternity. Whatever we accomplish for the Kingdom is founded on His sacrifice: His death, burial, resurrection and ascension.
Continual acknowledgement of this truth will build character, strength and discernment.
Remember who you are, a New Creation who is a citizen of Heaven who has been given Kingdom rights, abilities, and authority to overcome. All of God’s Word armor is meant to protect who you are in Christ Jesus: a Kingdom created spirit, born again of incorruptible seed through God’s Word.
We are to be strong and stand in the strength of the Lord and the power of His might. And further, we are to know and experience:
“... what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
“And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins…” Ephesians 1:19-2:1
The Greater One Resides Within Us
It is through our Great Champion, the Holy Spirit, that we triumph and have victory in combat. His power far exceeds any ability that man or demon has.
We are more than conquerors as we are led by Him.
“The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light.” Genesis 1:2-3
God’s creative power was at work when He spoke, “Let there be light,” which brings us to our next mighty weapon:
The Sword of the Spirit
“…and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God…” Ephesians 6:17
I like to look at the Sword this way:
S— is for the Spirit
God’s Spirit and the born again spirit—which are one.
The Word—God’s Word Spoken in faith from a Believer…
Together they equal: the S—WORD of the Spirit!
God’s Word coming forth from the good treasure of the born-again heart, accompanied with the almighty force of the Holy Spirit, is an atomic spiritual blast of power that sends demons fleeing in confusion seven ways!
The Sword of the Spirit is the only offensive weapon.
Definition of Offensive: attacking; assaulting; aggression; charging; storming; bombarding; onslaught
This is what the devil flees from when the Mighty Word of God is sent as a SWORD with pinpoint accuracy on the target. God’s Word is alive and sharper than any two-edged (earthly) sword because it is supernatural. His Word is anointed to destroy yokes and remove burdens. See Isaiah 1:27. This is how Jesus lived in the Spirit. He also yielded Himself to do only what Father said. And it is time for The Church to do the “works that He did, and even greater.” John 14:12
How could a young shepherd boy use a rock and a sling to take down the champion of a massive army who continually abused God’s people with slander, fear and threats of annihilation? What did he say before going into battle?
“You come to me with a sword … [earthly]; I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord, [whom David leaned on], will deliver you into my hand, [faith declaration], and I will strike you and take your head from you…that all the earth may know there is a God in Israel.”
Read 1 Samuel 17.
How did Gideon and his army of 300 men, who previously were fearful, timid and weak, turn into an undefeatable, aggressive force against a multitude of enemies, that, “when the 300 blew the trumpets, the Lord set every man’s sword, (earthly), against his companion throughout the whole camp.” Read Judges 6-8.
It would seem that the victory attained was not only for David or for Gideon, but for the nation of Israel as well. Our individual assignments are doing more than we think!
The Sower Soweth the Word—Read Mark 4:11- 32
To The Church it has been given to know the mysteries of God. Jesus said if we do not understand this parable, we will not understand all the other parables, or things pertaining to His Kingdom.
Four different kinds of ground, (hearts), who heard God’s Word, had four different kinds of results. Only one type of Believer will bear fruit. Those who hear the word, accept it into their heart and actually do what it says will produce thirtyfold, sixtyfold, and even hundredfold.
The Word Choked—Vs. 20
“The cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things ENTERING IN [the heart], choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”
Satan’s goal is always to maneuver believers away from the Word in order to steal it completely out of the heart to gain further ground and cause the believer to lose his position of authority.
God’s armor is God’s Word permeating the entire being of the New Man, systemic in nature, meant to occupy the total man from the inside out.
In gardening we fight insects that attack our plants, bushes, trees, etc., by applying a systemic pesticide onto the ground which is then absorbed into the plant’s root system to prevent the plant from being destroyed by outside influences such as weeds, disease and insects. Likewise, God’s Word is “health to all our flesh.” How?
Read the Word—Meditate the Word—Do the Word
“…he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” James 1:25 Why will he be blessed?
"To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 3:21-22
The Walk
Live in the Word. Live in faith, hope and love. Forgive all. Cast all your cares on the Lord because He loves you so dearly. Resist the devil with your armor. Use the mighty Sword of the Spirit, and speak the living Word against him.
Jesus is the living Word of God! Yet, in His earthly walk, He used the SWORD against His enemy in the wilderness, (Matthew 4:1-11), and throughout His entire ministry including His sacrifice, death and resurrection.
Interesting, isn’t it, that the Sword of the Spirit is hooked to “... praying always with all manner of prayer ...” in Ephesians 6:18? (AMP)
Prayer
Father, I ask that you increase your blessings and power on this dear Saint, your Beloved child, who has a heart to see your plans come forth in the state in which they live. I ask that you give them wisdom and keep them protected. Lead all of this prayer team, Father; train us to be effective and to accomplish your desires, that the world would be reconciled to know their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!