Jesus welcomed the people, taught them about the Kingdom of God and healed those in need. Luke 9:11
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Seeds of the Kingdom

Keys

by Patricia Lake

Jesus said “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Matthew 16:19, NIV

Every day keys play an integral and very pivotal part in all of our lives. We need keys to get in and out of our houses. Keys for the car! Keys to get in and out of the office. Keys for suitcases, desk drawers, filing cabinets … and a myriad of other types of keys like those needed to access our computers. If we can’t find the car keys first thing in the morning when we’re about to launch out into our day, it can bring major disruption to our plans, and everything is turned upside down until we find them. In other words, keys are vital for progress.

The same can be said of the spiritual. With the Holy Spirit’s help, we need to use the keys that God has given us, or we will find great difficulty in functioning as God intends us to do, and can end up becoming frustrated, and wonder where we’re going wrong.

One day, while in conversation with his disciples, and after Peter had received the revelation that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, Jesus imparted today’s verse to His disciples. Jesus has entrusted these keys to all who belong to Him, as we engage in spiritual warfare in the areas of responsibility He has given to each one of us. Having been entrusted with these keys, it is only with use that we will find they become effective.

Keys give us access, but they’re no good just lying around in our pockets. Spiritual keys, when used, will lock the enemy out – and with vigilance, keep him out, guarding against enemy intrusion in our lives.

There are also different keys for different situations. Obedience to the Word of God is a wonderful key, as it unlocks God’s favour and draws miracles from His hand. All the widow of Zarephath had to do was provide for Elijah a cup of water and a morsel of bread, out of her last meal, ‘For this is what the Lord says … “The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land’” (1 Kings 17:14). A miracle ensued when she trusted God’s Word and was obedient to it.

Forgiveness is a master key to healing, and many have been set free like a bird from a cage when choosing to use the key of forgiveness, and choosing daily to walk in forgiveness.

Through prayer, the reading of the Scriptures, and listening to the Word being expounded, we receive keys of revelation from the Holy Spirit. Have you used the keys that were last imparted to you? Think about what the Holy Spirit said about what He wanted you to do to move forward in His plans and purposes.

Don’t be stunned by fear. Fear is one of the most insidious of the enemy’s weapons against us. Don’t allow it to keep you out of God’s plans for your life. Allow yourself to make the journey into the purposes of God. ‘For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind’ (2 Timothy 1:7).

With God there is always so much more, and He has far greater plans for us than our limited minds can imagine. So ask the Holy Spirit to help you to use those keys, then see what God does with it all, and give Him all the glory!

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for the keys You’ve entrusted to me. Help me to be faithful in using them, for as Your word declares, You are able to do ‘exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or think’, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Patricia Lake is now Ellel’s Representative in Curacao, in the Dutch West Indies, where she is now living, having served with Ellel Ministries as Peter Horrobin’s Secretary for almost 20 years. Prior to that she was in ministry in her local Pentecostal church in Birmingham, before feeling the call of God to serve in the healing and deliverance ministry at Ellel Grange in the northwest of England.

 

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