Audio Length: 22:20
Ministered @ Grace Community Church in Arroyo Hondo New Mexico

Opening Scripture: Matthew 16:15-19 (19)

“He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father which is in heaven.

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.”

Jesus Christ uses the word “keys” for a specific reason. His use of the word means authority, therefore, God gave us Spiritual power and authority through Jesus Christ, over:

• satan himself
• All his kingdom of darkness

Psalm 91:9-13 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

But Jesus Christ only gave His power to His true church, His true born-again children who has truly denied themselves, picked up the cross and is actively following Jesus Christ as Lord.

When you apply His promises to your life, and do what He commands, you are glorifying God as Lord of your life (John 15:1-5). Only those who are in Jesus Christ and lives right according to Gods standards can do what Jesus has commanded us to do:

Luke 9:1-2 Then He (Jesus Christ) called His disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And He sent them to preach the Kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

John 14:12 Verily, verily I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father.

Luke 10:17-20 And the seventy (disciples) returned again with joy saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And He (Jesus Christ) said unto them, I beheld satan as lightning fall from Heaven.

Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in Heaven.

And this same power Jesus Christ gave us (His church) also applies in prayer

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

It is not by our own authority, but by the authority of Jesus Christ that we can do what Jesus Christ has done and what He promised us we can do, by using His authority (in His name).

‘It’ s time for the Lord to work’ and the Lord is waiting on us to use His power He has given us in prayer and in public so He can work.

Our net study in the Spiritual Warfare series, Biblical Revelation Knowledge On Spiritual Warfare