“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.” Matthew 16:18
What is the context of Christ’s address to Peter just prior to the time that He began to show the disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, suffer, be killed, but raised again on the third day? It is a context of victory, where the Lord told Peter, “…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.” (Matt. 16:18) The Lord then goes on to declare the specifics of this matter of overpowering the “gates of hell.” He speaks of the spiritual authority given to not only Peter, but to His church, and every member of it. He speaks of binding and loosing. The binding is seen in His dealing with demon possession where He by His authority “binds” the enemy, in order to cast him out. At the same time, He would “loose” those oppressed by the devil, setting them free from his domination. Christ is also the bondage breaker when it comes to sin, giving to the believer the knowledge of the will of God, the truth that is essential to be set free, and at the same time, by the Spirit, empowering him to stand up, and shake himself free of the shackles, and chains. It is only by Christ’s authority, in His name, that the authority and power is given to become free, and to live free. From the very beginning of dealing with this subject the Lord makes it very clear that He is the One who declares what He will do in building His church, which by His power will overcome the opposition of the enemy. He is also that one who gives to the believer, or believers, His power and authority to bind the enemy, and loose the captive, setting him free. Specific keys of the kingdom are certainly His name, His power and authority by His Spirit, for His glory. How then does this work out in the life of a believer, one who is a follower of Christ, who is seeking to love and serve Him victoriously?
In the Gospel of John, we find the Lord Jesus making a very emphatic statement, which will help us to understand His ways. He said to His disciples, “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 unto My Father.” (John 14:12) What is Jesus saying here? First of all, He is clearly putting the emphasis on the fact that what He is saying is the absolute truth. This is seen by His use of the words, “Verily, verily, I say unto you.” Secondly, he brings quickly before the believer the fact that he is called to live by faith in the Christ’s absolute faithfulness to fulfill His word. The Lord then brings the believer to consider that which is possible, even in the face of the opposition of the enemy. He begins with His works; those works of God accomplished by Christ. Christ is always the example, as well as the essence of these works. It is as the believer abides in Christ, and Christ abides in the believer, that Christ’s works become operative in him, for it is by His power and authority that they are accomplished. There is a promise associated with the unveiling of the will of God, and His works which He will do. It is that the believer can know the realization of Christ’s promise of “greater works than these.” How? Jesus said, “And whatsoever ye shall ask IN MY NAME, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye ask anything IN MY NAME, I will do it.” (Jn. 14:13) Christ’s name is key.
Dear Father, Strengthen us to pray. In Jesus’ name, Amen.