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- THE KINGDOMS DESCRIBED
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- THE KINGDOM: PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE.
- KEYS TO THE KINGDOM
KEYS TO THE KINGDOM
"And I will give unto thee the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven." (Matthew 16:19)
In Dr. Myles Munroe's third book in his 'Kingdom series' (Applying The Kingdom) he states "The secret to accessing the things of the Kingdom is to have the right keys. Not literal keys of course, but principles that open the floodgates of Heaven. "
AN APPOINTED KINGDOM
Before Jesus returned to Heaven He told His disciples:
" And I appoint unto you a Kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me." (Luke 22:29)
Jesus also spoke of His Church which would extend the message of the Kingdom throughout the world:
"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven." (Matthew 16:18-19)
In passage above Jesus revealed that Peter would be one of the spiritual foundation stones of the first church. This meant he would be a vital part of its growth and development. Peter's name actually meant "a rock" or "stone." Jesus then said of Himself, "...upon this rock I will build my Church" indicating that the Church would derive its existence from Him. He would be the rock upon which the Church was built.
There would be many other lesser stones (people like Peter). These stones would be an important part of the Church. But Jesus Himself was the cornerstone on which the structure of the Church was to be built. Jesus then made two comments regarding this Church.
First, He said that "the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it." This implied that the Church would have enemies fighting it, but assured that the enemies would not overcome it.
Second, and most important to our study, Jesus promised to give the keys to His Kingdom to the Church.
In the natural world if you possess the keys to a building, it means you have authority there. The authority Jesus was speaking of in this passage is a spiritual authority. He gave the Church spiritual keys to the doors of His Kingdom. Jesus said "I" will give them. The power and
authority of the Church was to flow from Jesus. The use of the word "will" (future tense) meant that the keys had not yet been given at the time Jesus spoke. This power was released in Acts 2 when the Holy Ghost was given to believers:
" But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
The keys to the Kingdom were the power to bind and loose. To bind something means to put fetters or a bond on it. It is like closing and locking the door to a room. To loose something is to release or set it free. It is similar to opening the door to a room.
Dr. Myles Munroe stated in his book 'Applying The Kingdom' that "The secret keys to kingdom things is position and disposition. Disposition is Kingdom Citizenship. Position is righteousness. Position and disposition: those are the keys. get your citizenship in order and then stay in right relationship with the heavenly country and all these things will be added to you".
The Church would have a position of authority. It would have the keys to God's Kingdom. It would be the instrument through which the spiritual doors to the Kingdom would be opened tothe nations of the world.
HOW TO ENTER THE KINGDOM?
The keys to the Kingdom were given by Jesus to the Church. But specifically, how was entrance to be gained to the Kingdom of God?
John 3:1-21 records the story of Nicodemus, a religious leader at the time of Christ's ministry on earth. He came to Jesus desiring to gain access to the Kingdom of God and, by doing so, inherit
eternal life. Jesus told him:
"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God." (John 3:3)
Nicodemus was confused. He asked Jesus:
"How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?" (John 3:4)
Jesus explained to Nicodemus that the "born-again" experience of which He spoke was not a physical birth. Through physical birth you are born into a kingdom of this world as a citizen of a nation.
At natural birth, you inherit the basic sin nature:
"Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. " (Psalms 51:5)
Because God's Kingdom is a spiritual kingdom, you must be born into it through spiritual rebirth.You must change your residency from the kingdom of Satan to the Kingdom of God. Jesus said:
"That which is born of the flesh is flesh: and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." (John 3:6-7)
Paul explained that you could not enter the Kingdom with a flesh and blood body:
"Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God..." (I Corinthians 15:50)
You enter the Kingdom of God and become heirs of the Kingdom through spiritual rebirth. The way to be born again is by believing that Jesus died to pay the penalty for your sins. You must confess your sins, ask forgiveness, be baptized into his church and place your trust in Him:
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that theworld through Him might be saved. "(John 3:16-17)
It is through Jesus that you can move from the kingdom of Satan to the Kingdom of God:
"(God) Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son." (Colossians 1:13)
REPENTANCE OR REVOLUTION?
When Jesus came to earth to extend the Kingdom of God, some who acknowledged Him as King thought the Kingdom would come through revolution. They thought there would be an actual physical revolt against the existing ruling powers of the world. But Jesus taught that the key to His Kingdom was not revolution but repentance (Changing the way you used to think and think the kingdom way):
"Jesus answered, My Kingdom is not of this world: if my Kingdom were of his world, then would my servants fight that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my Kingdom not from hence. "(John 18:36)
"Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.
And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the Gospel. (Mark 1:14-15)
From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the Kingdomof Heaven is at hand." (Matthew 4:17)
This page is to be continued. Check back soon......
"And I will give unto thee the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven." (Matthew 16:19)
In Dr. Myles Munroe's third book in his 'Kingdom series' (Applying The Kingdom) he states "The secret to accessing the things of the Kingdom is to have the right keys. Not literal keys of course, but principles that open the floodgates of Heaven. "
AN APPOINTED KINGDOM
Before Jesus returned to Heaven He told His disciples:
" And I appoint unto you a Kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me." (Luke 22:29)
Jesus also spoke of His Church which would extend the message of the Kingdom throughout the world:
"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven." (Matthew 16:18-19)
In passage above Jesus revealed that Peter would be one of the spiritual foundation stones of the first church. This meant he would be a vital part of its growth and development. Peter's name actually meant "a rock" or "stone." Jesus then said of Himself, "...upon this rock I will build my Church" indicating that the Church would derive its existence from Him. He would be the rock upon which the Church was built.
There would be many other lesser stones (people like Peter). These stones would be an important part of the Church. But Jesus Himself was the cornerstone on which the structure of the Church was to be built. Jesus then made two comments regarding this Church.
First, He said that "the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it." This implied that the Church would have enemies fighting it, but assured that the enemies would not overcome it.
Second, and most important to our study, Jesus promised to give the keys to His Kingdom to the Church.
In the natural world if you possess the keys to a building, it means you have authority there. The authority Jesus was speaking of in this passage is a spiritual authority. He gave the Church spiritual keys to the doors of His Kingdom. Jesus said "I" will give them. The power and
authority of the Church was to flow from Jesus. The use of the word "will" (future tense) meant that the keys had not yet been given at the time Jesus spoke. This power was released in Acts 2 when the Holy Ghost was given to believers:
" But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
The keys to the Kingdom were the power to bind and loose. To bind something means to put fetters or a bond on it. It is like closing and locking the door to a room. To loose something is to release or set it free. It is similar to opening the door to a room.
Dr. Myles Munroe stated in his book 'Applying The Kingdom' that "The secret keys to kingdom things is position and disposition. Disposition is Kingdom Citizenship. Position is righteousness. Position and disposition: those are the keys. get your citizenship in order and then stay in right relationship with the heavenly country and all these things will be added to you".
The Church would have a position of authority. It would have the keys to God's Kingdom. It would be the instrument through which the spiritual doors to the Kingdom would be opened tothe nations of the world.
HOW TO ENTER THE KINGDOM?
The keys to the Kingdom were given by Jesus to the Church. But specifically, how was entrance to be gained to the Kingdom of God?
John 3:1-21 records the story of Nicodemus, a religious leader at the time of Christ's ministry on earth. He came to Jesus desiring to gain access to the Kingdom of God and, by doing so, inherit
eternal life. Jesus told him:
"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God." (John 3:3)
Nicodemus was confused. He asked Jesus:
"How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?" (John 3:4)
Jesus explained to Nicodemus that the "born-again" experience of which He spoke was not a physical birth. Through physical birth you are born into a kingdom of this world as a citizen of a nation.
At natural birth, you inherit the basic sin nature:
"Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. " (Psalms 51:5)
Because God's Kingdom is a spiritual kingdom, you must be born into it through spiritual rebirth.You must change your residency from the kingdom of Satan to the Kingdom of God. Jesus said:
"That which is born of the flesh is flesh: and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." (John 3:6-7)
Paul explained that you could not enter the Kingdom with a flesh and blood body:
"Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God..." (I Corinthians 15:50)
You enter the Kingdom of God and become heirs of the Kingdom through spiritual rebirth. The way to be born again is by believing that Jesus died to pay the penalty for your sins. You must confess your sins, ask forgiveness, be baptized into his church and place your trust in Him:
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that theworld through Him might be saved. "(John 3:16-17)
It is through Jesus that you can move from the kingdom of Satan to the Kingdom of God:
"(God) Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son." (Colossians 1:13)
REPENTANCE OR REVOLUTION?
When Jesus came to earth to extend the Kingdom of God, some who acknowledged Him as King thought the Kingdom would come through revolution. They thought there would be an actual physical revolt against the existing ruling powers of the world. But Jesus taught that the key to His Kingdom was not revolution but repentance (Changing the way you used to think and think the kingdom way):
"Jesus answered, My Kingdom is not of this world: if my Kingdom were of his world, then would my servants fight that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my Kingdom not from hence. "(John 18:36)
"Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.
And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the Gospel. (Mark 1:14-15)
From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the Kingdomof Heaven is at hand." (Matthew 4:17)
This page is to be continued. Check back soon......