May 6pm, 2001  “Going where no one has gone before!” Mat. 16:13-19

By Ronald E. George Jr. at the Fayetteville Baptist Church.

 Did You Bring Your Keys?    You Have the Keys!  Where can you go without the keys?  You can go where no one has gone before if you have the keys.  Have you ever lost your Keys?  Have you ever locked your keys up in your car or your house?   Some how you needed to get in, but you didn't have a key.  You may have had the keys that someone else was looking for.    Locks supposedly were made to keep out the bad but let the good in.  Yet, sometimes everyone gets locked out including the good.  That's why some are smart enough to know the difference and responsible enough to open the door has been given the keys to the doors. 

Scripture Text:  Matt 16:13 (KJS) When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14 And they said, Some [say that thou art] John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 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. 18 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. {Peter: this name signifies a rock} 19 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.

     The Lord himself gave the keys to the Kingdom to Peter and He gave them to you and me to let in all those who want to come in..  Even the gates of Hell will not stop those who are in the Kingdom of God.  You and I are not the judges, but the "Keeper of the Keys."

 I.  The Door to the Kingdom is the Lord. 

John 10:7 (KJS) Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

The Kingdom of God is life to all who will enter in.  You have to have access to the door before you can come in and partake of the life giving presence of the living God in your life.  Jesus is the door. 

II.  The Keeper of the Keys.  Who are they? 

            If you like Peter believe that the Lord is the Christ who is the Savior of the world, then you have been given the keys to kingdom as well.  The keepers of the keys are those who have been chosen to open the door for those that need to enter in.  The keepers are those who have been chosen to have the power.  They have been trusted to take care and make sure that those who need to enter will be allowed.  Those who will not enter are not permitted to come in.  The keepers are those who will do the will of the owner of the door.  The key of the kingdom is the power to allow people to enter.  Do you have the keys?  Then you have the responsibility. 

III. What are the Keys to the Kingdom?

1.      Knowledge is the key.  The knowledge of the door and the Lord.  Knowledge is power.  You know the way to eternal life and abundant living if you have the keys to the kingdom.  If you know the Lord Jesus as the one who is the Christ then you have the knowledge that others are in need of.  Since you know the Lord then you can introduce him to others. 

2.      Faith is the key.  The faith to believe that the Lord is the door.  There is no other way.  The faith we have has been given to us from above.  As Jesus told Peter that flesh and blood had not revealed it unto him, but the Father from above.  This is the gift that we can share with others through our life, our lips, and our love. 

3.      Love is the key.  The Love to want to open the door for the others.  The compassion and caring that is necessary to pick up our crosses and bear them with the Lord.  The love to reach out to others and bring them in.  The caring to withstand problems and troubles to go out to bring them in. 

4.      Power is the key.  The Power to be the ones chosen to bind on earth and in heaven.  The gates of hell would not be able to stop you from setting the captives free and letting those held by the bonds of sin free to know and serve the Lord.  You have been given a special power and a privilege.  You have the power will you use it? You have been the power and authority to become a child of God.  As a child you have the keys to the door of the Lord’s house, which is the kingdom.  Will you use it?

John 20:21 (KJS) Then said Jesus to them again, Peace [be] unto you: as [my] Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on [them], and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; [and] whose soever [sins] ye retain, they are retained.

5.      You are the key.  What you have been given from God is the Key to the Kingdom?  The Faith to believe Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God and the Messiah.  So that you have the knowledge to share with others that they may have access to the precious gift of God of his Kingdom.  Your abilities and gifts can be used by God to bring others into the kingdom..

6.      We are the key.  The Disciples are the Keys to the Kingdom?      The disciples of Jesus are the keys to the kingdom of God for many who are starving with out the life giving food of God.  God chooses you to enter into the plan that he has for your life.  He will use what he has given you to allow others to enjoy the benefits of the Kingdom.   

Jesus is the door and we are the Keys to the kingdom of the door. Have you entered in?  Will you let others in?  Will you go where no one has gone before?  Will you go beyond the gates of hell and set the prisoners free.