SERMONS

Peter received a revelation from the Father.

It regarded the identity of Jesus.
Humanity did not relate this to Peter.
Peter was THEN READY FOR A SECOND REVELATION.

Jesus told him about hearing from the Father and then said, "AND I SAY ALSO UNTO THEE."

The SON had a revelation for Peter now, too.
It was a further revelation.
THERE IS MORE TO UNDERSTAND.
And this further revelation was associated with PUTTING THE CHURCH ON THE ROCK.
Jesus would SAY ALSO to Peter, as well as THE SON WOULD BUILD THE CHURCH ON A ROCK.
AND THE SON WOULD GIVE THE KEYS TO THE KINGDOM.
This would provide Peter with power to loose and bind on earth so that it would be loosed and bound in heaven.

Bro Michael Smith noted Sunday that the keys to the Kingdom are TRUTHS that unlock all the potential of the Kingdom.

Just because one is born again does not mean they are using the keys of the kingdom to fully benefit from all the Kingdom has to offer.
There are KINGDOM PRINCIPLES, that if you LEARN THEM you can bind and loose.

Notice that Jesus said HE WOULD SAY ALSO, build the church on the rock, and give keys of the KINGDOM.

These are additional experiences that follow learning a revelation of the Lord's identity from the Father.
What the Father said, allowed Peter to know who Jesus is.
And once Peter saw Jesus as He should, Jesus WOULD THEN provide additional revelation to bring Peter a whole lot further into actually experiencing KINGDOM authority.

The gates of hell would not prevail against the church.

This is because the church was founded upon THE ROCK.
Hell not prevailing against the church was the result of the Church being built on the Rock.

Notice that we read how Jesus first told Peter he was blessed to receive revelation from the Father.

But a few verses later, when Jesus speaks of going to Jerusalem to be killed and rise the third day, Jesus had to call Peter "satan".

Matthew 16:20-25 KJV Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

This is because each must receive a revelation from the Father as well.

(21) From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. (22) Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. (23) But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. (24) Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. (25) For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Jesus just said the gates of hell (hades-death) would not prevail against the church due to the revelation that Jesus gives that builds the church on a rock.

This rock is so stable, that it empowers the church to resist anything hell throws at it.
Jesus speaks of overcoming death like this, and then when He spoke of Himself dying, Peter rebuked him.
THIS SHOWS US THAT PETER DID NOT GET THE REVELATION FROM JESUS.
Had he received this second revelation, Peter would not have been concerned over the mention of death.
He would rest assured that the gates of hell could never prevail.

Peter continued to know only the identity of Jesus.

He calls Jesus LORD, but he has no faith in overcoming death.

Jesus speaks of the cross.

And these are more truths that revolve around the REVELATION that puts us on the ROCK.

Everybody likes the Father's revelation.

But when the Son reveals truths, the flesh hates it.
They involve KINGDOM PRINCIPLES.
Denying flesh.
When the cross is introduced to FLESH, that means death to the flesh.
BUT THE GATES OF DEATH CANNOT PREVAIL AGAINST THE CHURCH built on t he rock by revelation from Jesus.
By clinging to and living by truths from Jesus.

These TRUTHS FROM JESUS are KEYS TO THE KINGDOM!

They speak of the cross and self denial, which render the gates of death useless against us.
Death can only deal with FLESH and SELF.
And if we have taken up our crosses as possessing the KEYS of the Kingdom require, DEATH CANNOT AFFECT THAT WHICH IS CRUCIFIED anyway!

It takes the CROSS to deny yourself, to bear fruit of the Spirit.

If anything kills the fruit of the Spirit it is CARNALITY AND FLESHLINESS.
The supernatural love and joy and peace of God, OF THE SPIRIT, is squashed by the fleshliness in our lives.

But when flesh is laid aside, and God's Spirit is ruling our lives, THE KINGDOM OF GOD COMES THROUGH and takes dominion in us.

Speaking of the ROCK, this exact picture of getting the first revelation and missing the second is found in Matt 7.

Mat 7:21-25 KJV Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (22) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (24) Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: (25) And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

The people in this picture KNEW THE LORD'S IDENTITY.

Peter called Jesus LORD, but told him to put the cross far from him, necessitating Jesus to refer to him as satan.
And these people call Jesus Lord.
BUT THEY DO NOT ENTER THE KINGDOM.
THEY KNOW THE LORD, BUT THEY DO NOT "DO THE WILL OF THE FATHER".
The SON REVEALS that will by giving KINGDOM PRINCIPLES that deny self and flesh.
And you can actually accomplish operation of the gifts of the Spirit as these who knew the Lord did, but you are a worker of iniquity because you did not hear the WORDS OF JESUS AND DO THEM.
Your flesh was never dealt with by kingdom principles -- keys of the kingdom -- so you are a worker of iniquity.

HEARING THE WORDS OF JESUS - THESE SAYINGS OF JESUS' - puts your house of your calling and election on a ROCK.

Jesus said I NEVER KNEW YOU.

You know HIM if you get a revelation from the Father, BUT HE KNOWS YOU when you get a revelation from HIM!

Matthew 17 actually PLAYS THIS OUT:

Matthew 17:1-5 KJV And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, (2) And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. (3) And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. (4) Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. (5) While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

They're on a ROCK - a mountain.

And Peter wishes to STAY THERE and build THREE HOUSES.
Jesus just spoke of building the church on a rock.
But Peter says STAY HERE.
He still thought of GOING TO JERUSALEM WHERE JESUS WOULD DIE.
AVOID THE CROSS.
STAY HERE.

And the sequence of revelation starts all over again.

One more time the FATHER REVEALS WHO THE LORD IS.
THIS IS MY BELOVED SON.
But then He directs Peter to HEAR THE SON now.
GET THE SECOND REVELATION.
GET KINGDOM PRINCIPLES.
LEARN ABOUT THE CROSS.
LEARN ABOUT DENYING SELF.

And the gates of hell can send storms and winds and the HOUSE ON THE ROCK WILL STILL STAND!

Let me prove to you that all of this is exactly what Romans 12:1-2 meant when it spoke of being transformed by the renewing of the mind.

When we read JESUS WAS TRANSFIGURED, that word TRANSFIGURED is the same GREEK WORD in Romans 12:2 that is translated TRANSFORMED.

And just as we are transformed by the renewing of our minds, WE ARE TRANSFIGURED when we receive revelation and truths from Jesus that are KEYS to the kingdom.

When dad gives his car keys to his son, his son must have come to the place with his dad where HIS DAD CAN TRUST HIM.

When Jesus gives you the keys to the Kingdom, YOU ARE TRUSTWORTHY because YOU ARE DENYING SELF and you will not abuse God's power when you have DENIED YOURSELF.
If you are taking up your cross and living by Kingdom self-denying principles, YOUR MIND IS RENEWED and you are transformed and no longer the same irresponsible child of God you first were when you only knew who Jesus was.

YOU ARE STABILIZED.
You are on a ROCK.
You have some SOLID GROUNDING beneath you when you learn kingdom principles.

2Pe 1:2-11 KJV Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, (3) According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: (4) Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (5) And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; (6) And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; (7) And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. (8) For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (9) But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. (10) Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: (11) For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Like the house on the rock that would never fall, and like the church on the rock against which the gates of hell could not prevail, YOU WILL NEVER FALL IF YOU GAIN THESE PRINCIPLES.

And remember in Matt 7 when Jesus said THOSE WHO DO THE WILL OF THE FATHER SHALL ENTER THE KINGDOM?

Peter said AN ENTRANCE INTO THE EVERLASTING KINGDOM of Jesus will be ministered to you abundantly.
This is not dying and going to heaven.
This is right here on earth, entering a place of KINGDOM AUTHORITY where you have the KEYS TO THE KINGDOM!

It is on earth because it says WHAT YOU BIND ON EARTH IS BOUND IN HEAVEN.

Matthew 18:2-5 KJV And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, (3) And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. (4) Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (5) And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

Jesus spoke of ENTERING THE KINGDOM here as well.

IT IS ALL RELATED!
You must HUMBLE YOURSELF as a little child.
THAT IS A KINGDOM PRINCIPLE.
YOU ENTER.

And notice that Jesus said that such a child is received as though Jesus, Himself were received.

This means there is that much authority and status granted to SUCH A CHILD OF GOD, that Jesus said you recognize he/she is just as though JESUS was there!

This principle of Jesus giving us that much status is mentioned as you continue.

Matthew 18:15-20 KJV Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. (16) But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. (17) And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. (18) Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (19) Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. (20) For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

The above passage mentions something people think was a totally different subject from the context of the discussion.

Verse 20.
We have taken that out of context for years.
If we would have carefully noticed the entire chapter and what it was ALTOGETHER saying, we would not have missed it.
But after saying TWO OR THREE dealing with a trespassing brother, WHEN THEY FOLLOW THESE PRINCIPLES OF CONDUCT, are as good as JESUS' HIMSELF BEING THERE and making the decision.
It does not mean if two or three show up for church, then Jesus will still honour them and be there.
NO.
It is saying the same thing as verse 5 said.
When you deny self, and learn and live by kingdom principles, you have THAT MUCH AUTHORITY and have been granted Daddy's KEYS to the Kingdom, that YOUR DECISION there with that trespasser is as good as Jesus' having made that decision.
And THAT is what it means when we read whatever we bind on earth shall be bound in heaven.

Jesus is not going to bind or loose in heaven everything that some half-backslidden carnal saints binds and looses on earth.

They do not live by principles and therefore do not have the keys.
You aren't driving father's car! You're too irresponsible and reckless.
Your mind is not girt up responsibly and you are not stable but double minded.

If you would BE TRANSFORMED by the renewing of your mind and LEARN KINGDOM PRINCIPLES, you could say things that Jesus says is as good as Him saying them.

This is what Paul meant:

Just like Jesus, Paul told the Corinthians to take that fornicating member of the church and put him out.

Jesus said to count the unrepentant trespasser like a heathen and publican.
And then Paul said the same thing Jesus said in Matt 18:

1 Corinthians 5:3-5 KJV (3) For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, (4) In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, (5) To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Gather IN HIS NAME -- (where two or three are gathered together in my name) who follow kingdom principles and have the daddy's keys, with the authority of Jesus -- THE KEYS -- you can deliver someone over to satan.

YOUR DECISION, that you come up with through following KINGDOM PRINCIPLES Jesus taught, is as good as Jesus' DECISION!
So HE BINDS IN HEAVEN WHAT YOU BIND ON EARTH.
If you declare on earth the man to be a heathen and publican who did not follow kingdom requirements of repentance, or deliver him to satan, it is declared in Heaven.

Jesus said, when you learn to live by kingdom principles, HEAVEN BACKS UP YOUR trustworthy decisions!

Back to Peter's epistle.

1 Peter 1:10 ...give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall

2Pe 1:16-18 KJV (16) For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. (17) For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (18) And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 2Pe 1:19 KJV We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

TAKE HEED to the Son's revelation.

Listen to the SECOND REVELATION.

2 Peter 1:4 KJV Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

THESE ARE THE KEYS TO THE KINGDOM!

AND YOU ARE TRUSTWORTHY BECAUSE YOU HAVE already BEEN MADE A PARTAKER OF HIS DIVINE NATURE AND HAVE SHONE LIKE JESUS' SHONE, HIMSELF.

No wonder you are standing in the place of Jesus -- as if there He is in the midst of two or three like that -- because you are IN HIS IMAGE NOW.

You are transfigured!

.

TRUSTWORTHY TO RECEIVE THE KEYS TO THE KINGDOM