Understanding the Keys of the Kingdom
KEYS OF THE KINGDOM
Understanding the Keys of the Kingdom is important for every believer. In Matthew 16:19 Jesus said, “I will give you the KEYS OF the Kingdom of Heaven.” Notice Jesus said Key’s” plural and “of” the Kingdom not to the Kingdom. There is more than one key of the kingdom and as believers we don’t need keys to the kingdom because we are already in the kingdom. What we need are the keys of the Kingdom—the keys that will unlock the power of the Kingdom and make it work in our lives.
Keys Give Us Authority and Access
Keys represent authority and access. If you possess a key to a place, it means you have authority and power in that place. Jesus said whatever we bind on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever we loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Jesus gave us keys that give us power and authority. We are to rule and reign. The keys Jesus gave us give us access to the King and all the resources of the kingdom.
Jesus, the King does not want you to live as a victim of the world’s system, so He has given you keys to access the invisible realm of the kingdom and all its resources and power to empower you to live the abundant live (John 10:10) and be able to impact the seen world you live in. “We are not of this world, but we are in this world.” Jesus said, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom (Luke 12:32). The Kingdom of Heaven is God’s desire and purpose for you.
God’s Kingdom Works Opposite of the World’s Kingdoms
When Jesus spoke of “the keys of the Kingdom,” He wasn’t talking about literal physical keys to open physical locks. The Keys He is referring to are laws and principles by which the Kingdom of God operates. God’s kingdom and the kingdoms of this world operate by completely opposite principles. In the world’s system, you get ahead by taking, killing, manipulating, using people, stealing, gambling— any way you can. But in the Kingdom of God, everything is opposite. To get ahead, you must reverse what you do in the world. Instead of taking, you give; instead of hoarding, you release; instead of holding on, you give up; instead of hating, you love; instead of everyone for themselves, you prefer and regard others first. This does not make sense in the natural – it is counterintuitive, but that is the way God’s Kingdom works.
Knowing What the Keys Are & How to Use Them
It is important for you to understand the Kingdom of God. Part of understanding the Kingdom is learning how to use the keys of the Kingdom. As believers Jesus has given us the Keys OF the kingdom. The problem is we don’t know how to use the keys. Most of us don’t even know what the keys are or what the keys unlock. Hosea 4:6 says, “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge”. Ignorance of the Kingdom keys can destroy us. The key to keys is not having keys. The key to keys is knowledge, knowing what the keys are for and how to use them.
Keys Found in Knowing the Truth
Discovering the keys and how to use them is found in knowing the truth of God’s Word. Jesus said, “If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free (John 8:31-32). By “teaching,” Jesus is not referring so much to Scripture verses as much as the principles, laws, and precepts contained in those verses. Freedom comes in knowing the truth. Truth alone is not what sets you free. What sets you free is the truth you know. So, pursue the truth and begin to discover and understand what the keys of Kingdom are.