Use Your Keys

“Who do you say I am?”Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 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 16:15b-19As children of God we have so much underutilized power. God has given us not only the authority but also the power to do the works that He did but we have yet to tap into that power. We pray and seek God but then wait for Him to do it. That’s not the way it works. If God told us to go forth and make disciples it is we who are charged with doing it.We are not powerless. In this brief extraction of scripture found in Matthew chapter 16 Jesus has given us what we need to unlock the things that seem out of reach. He said it to Peter in chapter 16 but he also said it to His disciples in Matthew 18 and then gave us the same authority at Pentecost in Acts 2. He had given us the keys to the kingdom to open some doors and to close some doors. When you the right key in the right door the cylinder will turn and the lock will open. God’s word is filled with all kinds of keys; keys that forbid access and keys that can release some things.Here are just a few of them:• “I’m more than a conqueror to Him that loved me” (Romans 8:31) Key to success and not defeat• “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13) Power to do any and everything God has called you to do• “God is able to do exceedingly abundantly of all you can think ask or can imagine” (Ephesians 3:20) God can go beyond our wildest imagination• “His strength is made perfect in my weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:8) Whatever I am unable to do He comes along side us giving us strength• “I walk by faith and not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7) We can believe any and everything God has said• “For God I live and for God I’ll die” (Romans 14:8) Our lives are lived fully and totally for Christ• “God hasn’t given me a spirit of fear but of power and love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7) We don’t have to be afraid because God keeps us in His care• “God is my refuge and strength a very present help in the time of trouble” (Psalm 46:1) When afraid we can go to Him and He provides safety as we abide in His careWhat are you doing with your keys?