Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven- Binding and Loosing

 

That is what binding and loosing is all about.  Using the spiritual authority we already have to carry out the work of the Kingdom.

Before we get into this teaching let’s define what a semi-colon is.  Yes, a semi-colon (;).

A semi colon can be used in the place of a comma. It is mainly used to continue a sentence that could be finished by a full stop, but is too long to have a comma. Or not quite right to have a comma.

Why is this important?  Well, in order for us to properly understand the scripture that we will share about binding and loosing it is important to understand that a semi-colon is used to continue the same sentence.  When we understand this it is much easier to get the significance of this scripture.

Matthew 16:19 “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.”

There are so many people that are still walking around searching for the “keys of the kingdom of heaven” when God already gave it to us in this scripture.  It is following the semi-colon “whatever YOU bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever YOU loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Yes, it is so subtle but so true.  The authority has been given to the believer in Christ Jesus to bind and loose. This is the key.

You bind and You Loose.  You have this power so God has already given you the ability to take action and all you have to do is use it.

So what does binding mean?  The Greek word is deo (Stong’s concordance G1210)

So when you bind something you are forbidding it, prohibiting it from happening and putting it in chains.

How do we define loosing?  The Greek is Lyo (Strongs 3089)

 

So, loosing is the opposite action.  You are untying something loosening it.  You are setting it free.

Now we will show you how to use this in prayer.

Imagine that you see something happening around you and you know it’s not right, it’s not godly, it’s demonic, it’s an injustice, it is a complete violation of the word of God (this is not your opinion or your feelings).  Once you identify that this is not the will of God you have the authority to bind it up and to loose the Kingdom and all of it’s righteousness in place of that!
So your prayer would sound like this “I bind up pride in the name of Jesus and I loose humility”  So you would loose the opposite of what you are binding up.  You could even pray this over yourself in whatever area you see that you may need it.

“I bind up fear and I loose the perfected love of Christ”  this would be based on the scripture (1 John 4:18) “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

When you bind up something you think of the opposite to loose over the situation.

The prayer of binding and loosing is very effective if you use it as an offensive prayer.  Don’t wait until you get into a situation or things get tense before you do this.  If you know that you are about to face a confrontation or a bad situation you start binding and loosing before you even get to the scene.  This will ensure that things are in order before you show up and God has already sent his angels to take care of it before you arrive.

Here is a general binding and loosing prayer:

Jesus, according to Matthew 16:19 you said that you gave us the keys to the Kingdom and whatsoever I bind on earth is bound in heaven; therefore, I bind the enemy and every angel that was kicked out of heaven from interfering with Your blessings coming into my life. I bind every principality, every power, every might and dominion, every ruler of darkness and every spirit in high places from interfering in my life, my family, my health, my finances, my ministry, my business, my relationships with others and more importantly with you Lord. They will not be able to operate in any aspect of my life or have any influence over it, in Your Holy Name and according to your word Amen.

Lord Jesus,  You also said that whatsoever I loose  on earth will be loosed in heaven; therefore, I ask that you give the angels of heaven charge over me, according to Psalm 91.  I ask that you loose the angels to hearken the Word of God on my behalf. Loose Your blessings and favor over my life, my family, my health, my finances, my ministry, my business, my relationships in Your Holy Name, Amen

What does it mean for something to be bound in heaven? If you look up the word ‘heaven’ in the Greek, you’ll find another word called ‘air’, which is where the spirits dwell. The Bible also says that we are seated with Christ in heavenly places. This isn’t referring to heaven as in the place we go after we die, but rather a realm. The Bible tells us that we are seated in the heavenly realm with Christ (Ephesians 2:6). We, as humans, were below the angels and demons, but as believers, we are now seated above the angelic realm and seated with Christ! So the word ‘heaven’ here is referring to the spiritual realm, the air, where the spirits dwell and operate. In Ephesians 2:2, Satan is known as the ‘prince of the power of the air’.

Therefore, when you bind something here on earth, it will be bound in the spiritual realm as well. This gives us the ability to bind demons, because they dwell within the spiritual realm.

Binding is a powerful witnessing tool: What keeps a person from accepting Jesus? The god of this world, which is Satan (working through his army of demons) has blinded their minds from the light of the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:4). Jesus taught us to bind the strong man, then we can plunder his house (Mark 3:27). If you have been trying to witness to somebody, and seem to be getting nowhere, try binding the spirits of darkness that are preventing that person from seeing the light in the gospel. You cannot bind a person’s will or force them to accept the gospel, but you can do something about the demons which are holding the person back. Once you take the demons out of the picture, you will be able to talk directly to that person without demons whispering in their ears and trying to combat what you are telling them.

Loosing

Loosing, like binding, can be done here on earth, and takes effect in the spiritual realm. Loosing however, refers to the loosing of a captive or person in bondage. You bind demons, and you loose the captives. When Jesus set free the woman with the issue of blood, He said unto her, “Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.” (Luke 13:12)

Other common theology on loosing: Many people believe that loosing refers to the act of loosing good things into a person’s life, such as blessings or God’s love. My opinion is that God’s love is not bound in the first place, therefore there is no reason to loose it. I have never seen any Biblical backing for the concept of loosing good things into a person’s life. But if you look at Luke 13:12, it gives us an example of when Jesus loosed a captive, “And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.”

Of those who are not given the keys to the kingdom of heaven we are told “to them it is not given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven”, and Christ tells us that this prophecy of Isaiah is applicable “unto them”:

Mat 13:14  And unto them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand; And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive:

Matthew 13:14 is quoted out of Isaiah 6:9-10, the same prophet who reveals to us there is a “key of the house of David” (Isa 22:22). Because of other principles within these keys to the kingdom of heaven which we will be discussing, we know that we are all first ‘bound’, and we are locked out of the kingdom of heaven, and we are first unable to see or hear the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. It is only after we first come to acknowledge our own blindness that our sins and our blindness are removed as Jesus told the Pharisees who asked about their own relation to ‘the key of David’, which is Christ and His doctrine:

Joh 9:39  And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
Joh 9:40  And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
Joh 9:41  Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

It is counterintuitive and a complete contradiction to the natural man to be told that only the blind can see, and yet that is exactly what that very same prophet, Isaiah, had prophesied many years earlier:

Isa 43:8 Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.

As the book of Job demonstrates, spiritual blindness itself is a sin, and until we are granted to acknowledge our “blindness”, we will remain in our sins and under the wrath of God:

Job 40:3  Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
Job 40:4  Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. 
Job 40:5  Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.

Joh 3:36  He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

As with all things in the Christ-centric word of God, the keys to the kingdom of heaven are found only in Christ, who is also revealed to be the true “ladder unto [the kingdom of] heaven:

Joh 1:51  And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open [with the keys to the kingdom of heaven], and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

Without the keys to the kingdom, we are all left where Jacob was, in the darkness of the material realm holding the physical shadow and the type instead of the spiritual reality.

Gen 28:10  And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran.
Gen 28:11  And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.
Gen 28:12  And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.
Gen 28:13  And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;
Gen 28:14  And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 
Gen 28:15  And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.

“The Lord [standing] above it” is Christ Himself, and those who have “the keys [the ladder] to the kingdom of heaven” are His body “set up on the earth” through whom “might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God”. The ‘keys’ and the ‘ladder’ are both one and the same; they are Christ and His doctrine, and by Christ’s own decree, they are also all those who have His doctrine:

Act 22:8  And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Eph 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

Christ’s Father sent Him to save this world and to be the ladder between heaven and earth, to be the key to the kingdom of heaven, and Christ has sent us here for that very same purpose:

Joh 3:17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Joh 20:21  Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

It is only with the keys to the kingdom of heaven that we are now given to know that the ‘ladder’ typified the body which is under its head, Christ, and that the fulfilling of the promises given to Jacob were true and are fulfilled only in Christ and in His Christ:

Gal 3:26  For ye [Gentile Galatians] are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 
Gal 3:27  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Gal 3:28  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:29  And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Lord willing, we will be seeing just how Christ-centric the Word of God is as we go through this series on the keys to the kingdom of heaven.

To whom are the keys to the kingdom of heaven given?

The largest single Christian denomination is without a doubt the Roman Catholic Church. This church was the only legal church on earth for many hundreds of very oppressive years. One of the central false doctrines of that particular harlot daughter of the great harlot of Judaism, as we learned in our last study, was the false doctrine that Christ had given the keys to the kingdom of heaven only to the apostle Peter and his successors. That false doctrine was used to maintain control over all those under her sway, and it was all based upon taking this verse of scripture as a stand alone verse of scripture:

Mat 16:18  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.
Mat 16:19  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.

Upon those two verses was based the false doctrine of the authority of the Roman popes, who falsely claimed, and who still claim, to be the spiritual heirs of the supposed authority that was here in these verses given to the apostle Peter by our Lord Himself. Not knowing who was the ‘ladder’ that leads to an open heavens, not knowing Christ, His Christ or His Father, and certainly not even being capable of using the key which is the subject of our study today, the Roman Catholic popes were, and still are, extremely successful at keeping people from using key of “the sum of [God’s] word” to free them from the dungeon of darkness and spiritual blindness to see “how great [was] the darkness” in which they were dwelling:

Psa 119:160 The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever.

Mat 6:22  The lamp of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
Mat 6:23  But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is the darkness!

“The darkness…is [so] great” that one twisted and misunderstood verse of scripture can effectively blind us all to all the dozens, and sometimes hundreds, of other verses of scripture which teach otherwise. That is “how great is that darkness!”

As we learned in our last study, Matthew 16:18-19 taken by itself would indeed appear to give some special position to the apostle Peter above all the other apostles. As we saw last week, Matthew 16:18-19 is not “the sum of [the] Word” on the subject of who is given to bind and loose the “things on earth… as [they have been bound and loosed] in heaven.”

Just two chapters later in Matthew 18:18-19, Christ makes clear that His Words in Matthew 16:18-19 were simply contrasting Peter as a petros, a piece of a rock, with the petra, the massive rock, Christ, and that the power to bind and loose on earth that which has been bound and loosed in heaven, is given to all who are in Christ:

Mat 18:18  Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye [any “two”] shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Mat 18:19  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.

We are told clearly that Christ Himself is the only foundation of His church:

1Co 3:11  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Matthew 18 tells us how the keys to the kingdom of heaven serve to keep His church of the same mind and free from the diseases He has placed upon all the ‘earth’, the type of those who do not have the keys to the kingdom of God (Jer 22:29). The ‘earth’ does not know that “the sum of thy word is truth”. Not knowing that one principle keeps the whole Christian world from simply putting John 1:51 together with Genesis 28:12, and coming to know who Christ is and what He does as the key of, and the ladder to, the kingdom of heaven:

Joh 1:51  And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open [with the keys to the kingdom of heaven], and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

Gen 28:12  And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.

If we are not given to understand that “the sum of thy Word is Truth”, we are still living in darkness. If we are living in darkness, we do not have ears that are capable of hearing the voice of our Lord, and if we cannot hear Him then we cannot be obedient to commandments we cannot hear. Therefore, in that spiritual state, we are still under God’s wrath:

Exo 15:26  And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.

Joh 3:36  He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him. 

What does the principle of the sum of God’s Word reveal to us?

The principle of “the sum of Thy Word” works in conjunction with the principle of “in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established”, and in conjunction with the principle which teaches us that “no prophecy of scripture…is becoming its own explanation”. Here are those three verses, which are all saying the same thing:

Deu 19:15  One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.

Psa 119:160  The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever. (ASV)

2Pe 1:20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture at all is becoming its own explanation. (CLV)

When we learn the foolishness of attempting to establish doctrine on our own, or even if we have a collective understanding of one verse of scripture by itself, we will, Lord willing, never again make that mistake. Using Matthew 16:18-19 is a perfect example of doing that. That section of scripture taken by itself, makes it to “become its own explanation”. That is how that verse has led to the false doctrine of Papal power and infallibility, one of the greatest lies ever told. When we learn to be careful to get “the sum of [God’s] Word” together, rather than ‘some of His word’, and when we learn that, especially in dealing with the scriptures, the principle “at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established”, then the entire Word of God begins to open up to us.

A Few Examples

“The sum of [God’s] Word” shines the light of Truth upon all the false doctrines which are the result of establishing doctrine upon the big mistake of using one verse of scripture as “its own explanation”, like the false doctrine of angels marrying women.

This false doctrine is based upon this verse of scripture:

Gen 6:1  And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,
Gen 6:2  That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

That verse says nothing about angels marrying women, yet it is made to say just that by those who are handling the Word of God devoid of the keys to the kingdom of God, and many millions of Christians believe the lie that angels married physical women based on this one section of scripture, of which it is affirmed that “the sons of God” are ‘angelic spirit sons of God’, which of course is not to be found in that verse. The sum of God’s word reveals the fact is that Adam himself is called a son of God.

Luk 3:38  Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.

Paul tells us that all men are God’s offspring, His children.

Act 17:23  For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

Act 17:28  For in him [God] we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

To take away all doubt about the “sons of God” of Genesis 6:2 being physical sons of Adam who “took them wives of all which they chose”, Christ Himself informs us that “the angels of God in heaven…neither marry nor are given in marriage”:

Mat 22:30  For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

Mar 12:25  For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.

When we consider the sum of God’s word, we are told that all who die are “in Adam” not ‘in angels’:

1Co 15:22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Another false doctrine based upon a stand alone verse of scripture is the doctrine that Christ went down to hell and preached to spirits in prison between the time of His death and His resurrection. Here is the section of scripture which is the basis for this false doctrine:

1Pe 3:18  For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
1Pe 3:19  By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;

Where in those two verses is one word about the time setting of this event? The answer, of course, is that there is not one word in those two verses giving us the time when Christ preached to spirits in prison, and yet many millions of Christians believe and teach this event took place between the time of Christ’s crucifixion and His resurrection.

By applying the principle of “the sum of thy word” and simply reading the very next verse, we are given the time setting of when we are being told that Christ went and preached to spirits in prison. We need not speculate, all we need do is apply the principle of “the sum of [God’s] Word”. Here is the very next verse telling us when this took place:

1Pe 3:20  Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

These “spirits in prison” are spirits “which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing”. And whose “spirit” does the principle of “the sum of [God’s] Word reveal was in prison at that time? Who did Christ tell us was in prison when He came to this earth?

Psa 69:32  The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God.
Psa 69:33  For the LORD heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners.

God’s prisoners are men, and Christ tells us that He came to set the captives free:

Psa 146:7  Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners:

Isa 42:7  To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

Luk 4:17  And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
Luk 4:18  The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives [Greek: from G259, a prisoner], and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

The sum of God’s Word teaches us that it is those who are living under the wrath of God who are ‘in prison’ even now just as they were “in the days of Noah, while the ark was preparing”. It was through Noah that Christ was preaching to the spirits of men in prison while the ark was preparing, just as He is preaching through His church today to spirits in prison who are under His wrath today. Isaiah tells us the meaning of “be[ing] shut up in the prison”:

Isa 24:19  The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly.
Isa 24:20  The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it [the religions of men] shall fall, and not rise again.
Isa 24:21  And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.
Isa 24:22  And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited.

Christ tells us that we are to be doing the same thing:

Joh 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

Another example of establishing doctrine with ‘some of God’s Word’ instead of “the sum of thy Word” is the false doctrine of a rapture of God’s elect, which is based upon this section of scripture:

Mat 24:40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Mat 24:41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Mat 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

Where in those verses are we told that God’s elect are raptured out of this world? Of course the answer is that it is not there. However the verses immediately preceding these verses make clear who Christ is warning us will be “taken” and who will be “left”:

Mat 24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mat 24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
Mat 24:39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Righteous Noah and his family were not taken away, and we are even told this much earlier in scripture:

Pro 10:30 The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.

It was the wicked who were ‘taken away’ in the flood of Noah, and it is “the righteous [who] shall never be removed” while it is “the wicked [who] shall not inhabit the earth”. That is the sum of God’s word on the subject of the false doctrine of a rapture.

Our last example of establishing a false doctrine by refusing the admonition to always have two or three witnesses, and by ignoring the sum of God’s Word, and by using one verse or section of scripture as its own explanation, is the doctrine that we must bless and support the physical nation of Israel or else we are living under a curse from God.

Here again are three verses which will give us one of the keys to the kingdom of God, which is nothing less than the mind of Christ:

Deu 19:15  One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.

Psa 119:160  The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever. (ASV)

2Pe 1:20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture at all is becoming its own explanation. (CLV)

Here now are the verses which are used to ignore dozens of other admonitions and to rob you and me of our very lives by tempting us to ignore Christ’s commandment to love our enemies:

Gen 12:1  Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
Gen 12:2  And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
Gen 12:3  And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Based upon a misunderstanding of who scripturally is the seed of Abraham, millions of Christians have been snared into getting involved in the military affairs of this age, contrary to the commandments of our Lord that we are to love our enemies and stay aloof from the affairs of this age.

Mat 5:43  Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
Mat 5:44  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

2Ti 2:4  No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

2Co 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
2Co 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

There is no greater purpose on earth for which to fight than the life of our Lord, whose life is worth more than all the lives of all men of all time, and yet look at what He told his disciples who wanted to fight for His physical life:

Mat 26:52  Then said Jesus unto him [Peter], Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

So what does it mean when Christ told Abraham “I will bless them that bless thee”? If we are granted to remember that this section of prophecy is not of its own explanation, that we must have two or three witnesses, and that truth lies only in the sum of God’s Word, then we will believe what the New Testament tells us about who now, in the New Testament, is to be considered to be the seed of Abraham, and who it is we are to bless if we want to be blessed, and who it now is that we must not curse if we want to avoid being cursed. When we do that, this is who we discover is now to be counted as “Abraham’s seed”:

Gal 3:28  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:29  And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

The next chapter reiterates that it is only those in Christ who are now to be counted as Isaac, the children of promise and therefore as Abraham’s seed, and that “Jerusalem which now is [the physical descendants of Abraham]… is in bondage with her children”, and as long as she rejects Christ as her Savior, her children are no more than “the son of the bondwoman [who will] not be made heir with the son of the freewoman”:

Gal 4:22  For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
Gal 4:23  But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
Gal 4:24  Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
Gal 4:25  For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
Gal 4:26  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Gal 4:27  For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
Gal 4:28  Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 
Gal 4:29  But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
Gal 4:30  Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. 
Gal 4:31  So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

“We brethren [Gentile Galatians who are in Christ], as Isaac was, are children of promise. Jerusalem which now is… is in bondage with her children… cast out the bondwoman and her son for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman”. That is the Truth of the Word of God, and that doctrine is vehemently rejected by Babylon the great, the mother of harlots, and it is rejected by the vast majority of her harlot daughters.

That is our study for today. There are many other stand-alone doctrines and false assertions concerning the proper understanding of the prophecies of scripture. There are few indeed who use these three principles to understand all of the many signified symbols of the book of Revelation, but these three examples will suffice to demonstrate the disastrous results of not having and using the key of knowledge, the key of the house of David and the keys to the kingdom of heaven.

Next week, Lord willing, we will learn to apply the principle of  “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God”. When we learn to use that “key to the kingdom of heaven”, it will make the scriptures come alive as they never have before for all who know Christ and His Father:

Here are our key verses for our next study:

Mat 4:3  And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
Mat 4:4  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Joh 6:35 And Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of the life; he who is coming unto me may not hunger, and he who is believing in me may not thirst—at any time;

Joh 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

He Who Opens and Shuts

The Scripture: Isaiah 22:22

The key of the house of David I will lay on his shoulder; So he shall open, and no one shall shut;
And he shall shut, and no one shall open.

The context of this verse:

King Hezekiah is promoting one of his officers, Eliakim, to a high office of significant trust and influence, as indicated by giving him the “key of the house of David.” When Eliakim was given that key, it was a sign that he had been entrusted with the chief authority of the government, not unlike the role of prime minister today. He was given the authority to act in the king’s name.

The Scripture: Revelation 3:7

"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,
'These things says He who is holy, He who is true,
"He who has the key of David,
He who opens and no one shuts,
and shuts and no one opens."

By referencing the key of David, Jesus is describing His power in the kingdom of heaven and His authority to administrate the affairs of His kingdom. His authority is complete and absolute.

The Scripture: Ephesians 1:22-23

God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. 23 And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself. NLT

We have been given delegated authority by our King:

The Scripture: Luke 10:19

Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions,
and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

We are to administrate His kingdom here on earth until He returns. In the language of the book of Daniel, we are to “possess” – or hold on or occupy – the kingdom until He comes again (Daniel 7:18, 22). In the process of possessing, we will experience both victories and temporary defeats. However, we are assured of the final outcome because “a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High.” That judgment was the completed work of the Cross!

King of the Nations

Although Christ is King of the nations, we often relate to Him more as Savior, Redeemer, Friend, the Lamb of God, even the Risen Lord. And He is all those things. In this season, I sense Him saying:

I am revealing myself as King of the nations in this hour, for truly I do reign over the affairs of men and kingdoms in the earth. I hold every kingdom in my hand.

And I would have you see yourselves, not only as proclaimers and witnesses of my Gospel, but as my REGENTS on the earth. For you will come up to me and receive revelation of my kingdom and bring it down to earth. You will bring my purposes to bear on the lives of men in the earth. You will bring my kingdom to bear on the kingdoms of this world. For you are my regents and you go in the authority of my Kingdom.

I thought “regents” seemed an unusual word to use. In the U.S., that word is not as familiar it would be in Europe, where “regents” speak of monarchies and such. However, a trip to the dictionary gave me insight into what the Lord was wanting us to see.

“Regent” means: A person appointed to rule while a king is absent; acting in the place of a king or ruler.

The Lord wants us to grasp the authority He has given us. A regent acts with the authority of the king. Our King is, in a sense, “absent” from the earth, and He wants us to rule in His place until He returns. Occupy till I come (Luke 19:13). We don’t do this in our own strength. He has given us the Holy Spirit, both to reveal His will and to enable us to fulfill it. Therefore, we approach every situation with the mentality of the kingdom. We carry the government of Christ into each situation. We go in the “demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (1 Corinthians 2:1-5).

We have been given the key of spiritual authority.

Keys of the Kingdom

The Scripture: Matthew16:13-19 The Message

When Jesus arrived in the villages of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "What are people saying about who the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some think he is John the Baptizer, some say Elijah, some Jeremiah or one of the other prophets. “He pressed them, "And how about you? Who do you say I am? "Simon Peter said, "You're the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Jesus came back, "God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn't get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. 18 And now I'm going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out. And that's not all. You will have complete and free access to God's kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven. A yes on earth is yes in heaven. A no on earth is no in heaven.

What a powerful passage of Scripture!

Look at verse 18:

…a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.

How do you picture the gates of Hades? Do you think of them in terms of the ongoing attacks of the enemy against us? Do you see yourself on the defensive? In the Bible, “gates” referred to the entrance, or opening to a walled city, or a fortress. They are not offensive, but defensive. So the gates of the enemy’s kingdom are defensive…and they WILL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST THE OFFENSIVE ONSLAUGHT OF THE CHURCH! We are on the offensive, not the defensive!

SATAN IS NOT OUR ENEMY AS MUCH AS WE ARE HIS ENEMY!

Jesus Himself took back the keys of Hades and Death:

The Scripture: Revelation 1:18

I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.

Or as it reads The Message: …See these keys in my hand? They open and lock Death's doors, they open and lock Hell's gates.

Jesus has given us the keys of the kingdom!

As this translation so clearly reminds us, keys symbolize the authority to open and unlock. In Matthew 16, Peter was given the keys to unlock the truth of the kingdom first to the Jews (Acts 2:41) and then to the Gentiles (Acts 10:44-47; 11:1; 15:7). Thus, he opened the door of faith to them and unlocked access to God’s kingdom. We, too, have been given keys to unlock the kingdom of Heaven to those who are still locked up in the enemy’s realm.

There are many keys of the kingdom we could consider.

• Faith is a key of the kingdom (Matt 21:20-22, Mark 11:22-24).
• Unity is a key (Mark 3:24, Psalm 133).
• Childlike trust is a key (Mark 10:14-15).
• The qualities Jesus spoke of in the Sermon on the Mount are also keys of the kingdom.

In her keynote message at the Aglow Worldwide Conference, Jane spoke to us about the key of suffering. Many have been in a season of suffering. We’ve seen disasters in the earth that have caused untold suffering for hundreds of thousands of people: Hurricane Katrina, the tsunami in Asia, devastating tornadoes, earthquakes and floods in several parts of the world. The global economic crisis has impacted most of us on a daily basis. As living, breathing human beings, we experience suffering in any number of ways: in our physical bodies, illnesses that seem unrelenting; in our hearts, disappointment, loss, brokenness; materially, financial lack and needs.

Our Study

During the conference Jane stated:

There are some doors that can only be opened with the key of suffering. There are things that have been locked up until this specific time in history, and for those who are willing to embrace heartbrokenness, physical [suffering], or whatever the suffering has been…in the midst of that suffering, something has been building. I believe these are keys that unlock the future plans of God. Plans and purposes that can only come with the key of suffering.

The Scripture: Isaiah 46:10

Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure,'

“Things that are not yet done” refers to unfolding revelation as we move towards the fullness of time.

Part of that unfolding revelation is the role that the key of suffering plays in bringing forth the kingdom. Jesus, our example, spoke to His disciples of his own suffering.

The Scripture: Luke 24:44-46

These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me. And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day…”

Jesus opened their understanding so they would grasp that it was necessary for Him to suffer.

Prior to His resurrection, the disciples could not fully comprehend the reality of His crucifixion. Peter even rebuked Jesus when He spoke of suffering, dying, and being raised on the third day (Matt 16:23). After He arose, He was able to interpret those teachings for them in the light of their fulfillment.

Purchased Through Suffering

Jesus’ suffering purchased something for us.

In Luke 4, we read that Jesus was led of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. For forty days He endured suffering. Each time the devil came to Him, He was tempted to prove Himself:

The Scripture: Luke 4:3

If you are who you say you are, then command the stones to become bread… worship me… throw Yourself down from the temple…

But Jesus did not succumb to the instant gratification of proving who He was. Rather, He suffered, knowing that His suffering was producing something far greater. He was determined to accomplish complete victory and to buy back the authority that was lost in the Fall.

When we are led of the Holy Spirit into the wilderness of suffering, we, too, are buying back authority: authority to act as His “regents” in the earth. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done. We are bringing forth His kingdom and His purposes when we embrace the suffering. “Embracing the suffering” does not mean we have an unhealthy, unbalanced mentality toward suffering. Rather, we are trusting that God is at work in the situation and we are participating with Him in the process of bringing forth His purpose.

Jesus’ suffering bought back for us the dominion and power that He had purposed from the beginning when He told Adam and Eve to Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion…(Gen 1:28).

Power was released in the earth through what Jesus suffered.

And so it is with us.

… when we embrace the suffering, a power is released in the earth…God has put in our hands an ancient key, the key of suffering, that is going into an ancient lock to unfold the ancient purposes of God, as established from the beginning of time. Things that have not yet been revealed; things that have not yet come to pass; things that He is unfolding as we move towards our destiny… Jane Hansen Hoyt

Our willingness to stand in the face of suffering, to endure with faith, is buying authority in the spiritual realm. As we persevere, waiting and believing for the things God has promised us, we are growing stronger and, as Jane said, There are unshakable truths planted in our hearts that only come out of hardship. Embracing the key of suffering moves us that much closer to God’s purpose and destiny for our lives. We cannot get there any other way.

Strengthened Through Suffering

The Scripture: 1 Peter 5:10

But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

According to this scripture, God uses suffering in our lives to mature us.

• Perfect: Greek, katartizoo: to strengthen, perfect, complete, make one what he ought to be.

The word also means to prepare and to restore. Suffering is a key that can unlock the future God has for us. He uses it to shape us into what He sees we will need to be in order to fulfill His destiny for our lives.

• Establish: sterizo: to set fast, to turn resolutely in a certain direction, or to confirm; to make stable, place firmly, fix.

It is the same word used in Luke 9:51 when Jesus “steadfastly set” His face to go to Jerusalem and fulfill His purpose through the Cross. Through suffering, our faith is tested as is our commitment to believe His promises for our life. Unlike the enemy’s temptation which is designed to weaken our faith, God’s testing validates and establishes our faith.

• Strengthen: sthenoo: to strengthen, (figuratively) confirm (in spiritual knowledge and power).

There is spiritual power, knowledge, discernment, and understanding that only comes through suffering. We come to know the character of God in ways we would not understand if we had not endured hardship. Jesus learned obedience by the things He suffered (Heb 5:8). How much truer is for us.

• Settle: themelioo: to lay a basis for, (literally) erect, to lay a foundation.

This word is translated “grounded” in Eph 3:17 where it states that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith…being rooted and grounded in love…to know the love of Christ…

It is in the midst of suffering that our trust in God and His love for us is most severely tested. Yet, if we endure, the foundation on which we stand is immoveable and unshakable. To know – by experience (ginosko) – the love of Christ is the basis for our confidence in Him.

To paraphrase 1 Peter 5:10, when we experience suffering, we are being prepared for our future, resolutely committed to God’s purposes, strengthened in our relationship and understanding of God, and laying a firm foundation from which we will not be moved!

Glory From Suffering

Paul, as one who was deeply acquainted with suffering, tells us:

The Scripture: Romans 8:17-18

And if children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

One of the “ancient doors” that the key of suffering unlocks is a revelation of God’s glory – to us and in us. To us, in that we see God in a deeper, more intimate way than we did before we went through the trial. We come to know His comfort, His strength, His care for us in a way that only suffering can unlock.

The Scripture: Job 42:5

I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear,
But NOW [after going through suffering] my eyes see You.

On the other side of the trial, Job saw God’s glory.

His glory will be revealed in us. Have you ever known someone who has endured much suffering? There is a light that seems to radiate through them. From deep within comes strength and authority that is tempered by humility. It is the glory of the Lord revealed in that person. Suffering unlocks God’s glory within you…a glory that has been there from before you were born.

“God endowed you with a glory when he created you…A glory unique to you, just as your fingerprints are unique to you, just as the way you laugh is unique to you…”[1]

We gain a proper perspective on our suffering if we take Paul’s advice in Rom 8:18. The word “consider” means to calculate, compute, evaluate, or weigh. Paul is saying that if you place suffering on one scale and glory on the other, the glory side far outweighs the suffering. It is a weight that is exceedingly great and eternal.

The Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Travail Through Suffering

Think about a loved one who is not walking with the Lord. No doubt you have labored in prayer for that one’s salvation. There is suffering in watching someone you love make wrong choices. It breaks your heart. The tears and the prayers soften your heart so you can sense God’s heart for your loved one. You intercede and travail and carry a burden for that person in your heart. It’s not easy, it hurts, it involves suffering. Still, you carry it in your spirit like a woman carrying a child in her womb. Just as a birth in the natural realm is not without pain, so it is with a spiritual birthing.

God has a burden in His heart for His loved ones – the people of Israel. He longs for the day when they are birthed into His kingdom.

Listen to what He says about the Jewish people:

The Scripture: Deuteronomy 7:6-7

"For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples…

The Scripture: Isaiah 49:14-16

But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me,
And my Lord has forgotten me."
"Can a woman forget her nursing child,
And not have compassion on the son of her womb?
Surely they may forget,
Yet I will not forget you.
See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;
Your walls are continually before Me.

The Scripture: Psalm 103:13-14

The LORD is like a father to his children,
tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
For he understands how weak we are;
he knows we are only dust. NLT

Jesus grieved over Jerusalem.

The Scripture: Matthew 23:37

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!

God’s Heart for Israel

The tenderness of God’s heart toward Israel is expressed throughout Scripture. His covenant with them is an everlasting one and is not nullified because they have rejected Jesus. He is still longing to draw them into relationship with Him. And He is looking for those who are willing to carry the burden of His heart in prayer and intercession.

In her conference message, Jane shared from Jeremiah 9:1 that the “weeping prophet” travailed and suffered over the condition of his own people. They had turned from God.

The Scripture: Jeremiah 9:1

Oh, that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people! NKJV

Paul too, carried the burden of God’s heart for his people:

The Scripture: Romans 9:2-4

My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed — cut off from Christ! — if that would save them. They are the people of Israel, chosen to be God's special children. God revealed his glory to them. He made covenants with them and gave his law to them…NLT

In 2001, God spoke sovereignly and prophetically to the ministry of Aglow by imparting the burden of His heart to our leader, Jane. This call, this burden, has not come without suffering. But there are prophetic purposes – “ancient doors” – that God wants to unlock concerning His people and His land. He has entrusted us with a key of authority: to stand in the gap, to proclaim His purposes, to weep for His people, and to carry the burden of His heart for those who are the apple of His eye. Will we embrace the key of suffering and cry out for the veil to be lifted?

God’s Greater Agenda

We, as Gentiles, have been grafted into the kingdom because of the turning away of the Jewish people. We have been the recipients of great mercy as a result. It is our responsibility to now turn towards our Jewish brothers and sisters, can carry them in the womb of our spirit, pray and birth them back into the kingdom that we may become the “one new man” Paul spoke of in Ephesians 2:14-18. The body of Messiah will never be complete until we see the return of the Jewish people and they are grafted in again (Romans 11:23).

Jane has said that we will never become corporately what we have not experienced personally. The suffering we endure in the circumstances of our personal lives tenderizes our hearts towards the Lord. Our personal suffering prepares us to embrace the corporate call on the ministry of Aglow so that we can fulfill God’s purpose and destiny for us.

God has given us many examples in Scripture of how to endure suffering: Joseph, Abraham and Sarah, King David, Hannah, Esther, Ruth, and of course, His own Son. How did they find grace to endure and come through victorious? They looked beyond the immediate circumstances and saw the hand of God at work on a greater agenda. From Abraham and Sarah’s suffering would come the nation of Israel (Gen 12:2-3); Joseph’s suffering resulted in many lives being saved (Gen 45:8-9); Esther’s suffering was the salvation of her people (Est 9:1); Jesus’ suffering bought our righteousness (2 Cor 5:21).

Jesus trusted His Father, confident of His Father’s love and sure of the larger purpose at work in the midst of His suffering (see 1 Peter 2:23).

Our Response to Suffering

The human response to suffering is universal: GET ME OUT OF HERE!

Even David, in the midst of sorrow and suffering, longingly cried out:

The Scripture: Psalm 55:4-6

Oh, that I had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest.

But David always turned to the One who could comfort him, strengthen him, and give him hope.

The Scripture: Psalm 142:1-3 NLT

I cry out to the Lord; I plead for the Lord's mercy. I pour out my complaints before Him and tell Him all my troubles. When I am overwhelmed, You alone know the way I should turn...

The Scripture: Psalm 143:4-8 The Message

I sat there in despair, my spirit draining away, my heart heavy, like lead. I remembered the old days, went over all you've done, pondered the ways you've worked, stretched out my hands to you, as thirsty for You as a desert thirsty for rain. Hurry with Your answer, God! I'm nearly at the end of my rope. Don't turn away; don't ignore me! That would be certain death. If You wake me each morning with the sound of Your loving voice, I'll go to sleep each night trusting in You. Point out the road I must travel; I'm all ears, all eyes before You.

Turning to God should be our response to suffering too. He is the only One who sees the greater agenda and understands all He is working out in our lives. No matter what things look like on the surface, we can trust God. A good illustration is the way your computer runs Windows in the background behind whatever application you are running…Word, Excel, the Internet. Behind every program is the Windows Operating System, but you don’t see it running, you just see the application that is open. Windows is working in the background. God is working in the background, too, on our behalf. You may not see Him clearly when you are hurting, but He is there.

Graham Cooke encourages us to ask the right questions when we are going through a difficult time. The wrong question to ask is “Why?”

The right questions are the ones the disciples asked at Pentecost:

What does this mean? (Acts 2:12) and What shall we do? (Acts 2:37)

Prayer

Help me, Lord, to see your hand in all the circumstances of my life and to trust that you are working out your purposes in the midst of my suffering. Take all my pain, confusion, doubt, and fear, and wrap them in your loving purposes for my life (Ps 138:7-8). I trust that this is only for a season and I know that all seasons are tied to purpose in You (Eccl 3:1-8). You are good, and your mercy endures forever (Ps 107:1)!

The Scripture: Psalm 138:7-8 NLT

Though I am surrounded by troubles, You will protect me from the anger of my enemies. You reach out Your hand, and the power of Your right hand saves me. The Lord will work out His plans for my life — for Your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever...

The word “gospel” in the Greek Dictionary #2097 means “good news”, which is the good news about the Kingdom of God.

It is a gospel of grace, (Acts 20:24) “…the gospel of the grace of God”.

It is a gospel of salvation, (Eph 1:13 and 2 Tim 1:10), “…the gospel of your salvation… Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”

It is a gospel of obedience, (2Thes 1:8), “In flaming fire, taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” It tells us how we can enter (and be a part of) the Kingdom of God. We can be born into God’s spiritual family as His sons and daughters by obeying the gospel. What can we do to obey the gospel?

• Repent of our sins (Acts 2:38)

• Accept Jesus Christ as our Savior (Acts 2:38)

• Be baptized (Acts 2:38)

• Receive the “laying on of hands” to receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14–17)

• Obey the Ten Commandments —includes the 7th Day Sabbath (Luke 18:18–22, Ex 20, Rev 3:5)

• Observe the 7 Annual Holy Days (Col 2:16–17, Lev 23:1–44)

• Live by every word of God (pray, fast, study the Bible, give offerings to help preach the gospel, live by the faith of Jesus Christ) (Matt 4:4)

• Overcome sin through Christ’s strength and help so we bring forth fruits (Gal 6:22–23)

• Take the gospel message to the world (Matt 24:14). We are not fully clothed with the “armor of God” unless we wear the “shoes” that carry the gospel to the world (Eph 6:15).

Christians will continue to grow in their understanding about the gospel message as time goes on. In 2Pet. 3:18, “…grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ”. We are also promised this growth in 1 John 2:27, “But the anointing [Holy Spirit] which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things…”

In conclusion, the “keys” to the Kingdom of God is the gospel message. This message opens the way to Jesus Christ, who is our only “door” to God’s Kingdom and salvation. Although no man or church has the authority to add or remove our names from the Book of Life, we have a responsibility as Christians to obey this gospel and to proclaim it to the world!

---

Matt 16:19—Binding & Loosing

The Greek for Matthew 16:19 is difficult. Almost any interlinear will show that there are words in the Greek text which do not have any corresponding word in most English versions. Most translations make it sound like God must bind whatever Peter says, whether He agrees or not. However, Young’s literal translation is more clear: “whatever thou mayest bind upon the earth shall be, having been bound in the heavens, and whatever thou mayest loose upon the earth shall be, having been loosed in the heavens.” This version gives Peter permission to bind and loose things on Earth, as long as they are bound or loosed in heaven. This exact same wording is given in Matthew 18:18 where the same power is given to all of the disciples (not just the 12 apostles). — NSE

But, what exactly are the keys? The fact that the word is clearly plural tells us that there are at least two. One suggestion has been that these keys were used by Peter to open the door of the kingdom to the Jews (Acts 2:14ff) and then later to the Gentiles (Acts 10:34ff). I find this an inadequate explanation for two reasons. First, I believe there is a better explanation and second (and perhaps most importantly) one does not need two keys to open the same door twice.1 Now, the door must be the same otherwise we have to explain why there are different entrances for Jew and Gentile when Peter (note) plainly says “But we believe that we shall be saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same manner as they also” (Acts 15:11, DBY). In addition, we are told that God opened a door of faith to the Gentiles through Paul and Barnabas (Acts 14:27).

But, as I said, I believe there is a better interpretation.2 First, is there any hint as to what the keys might be? In Luke 11:52 we read, “Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.” Since this is the only hint we have, let’s tentatively say that this suggests that at least one key represents that which conveys knowledge with respect to the kingdom, that is discipleship. Can we find another key and can we put them together?

We have already seen that the kingdom is a sphere of the Lord’s authority and thus a witness for Him. In Ephesians 4 verses 1–6 we have three spheres of witness. Verse 4 identifies the innermost sphere; that sphere is defined by the “one body” which is the Church (or, Assembly). Thus, this sphere contains only true believers. Verse 5 defines the next sphere which is defined by owning the Lord. Here we have to recognize the similarity to the kingdom as we see it in Matthew’s gospel, particularly from chapter 13 onward. So, here we have the next key,  “baptism.”3 That these are the two keys, discipling and baptism, is nicely confirmed by Matthew 28:19, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” This is exactly the gospel in which we would expect such a confirmation.

The keys were given to Peter as the representative of the disciples generally. This must be the case unless we suppose some special place was given to Peter, which would have been lost when he died. Instead, we have the example of Philip in Acts 8:5–24 as a disciple making disciples. We have in Philip’s activities here a confirmation of what we have suggested from Scripture. Philip preached “the good news about the kingdom of God (v. 12). There was a man named Simon who also “believed” (i.e., accepted the place of being a disciple) and was “baptized” (v. 13). Thus we have the two keys applied to Simon putting him on the ground of responsibility in the kingdom of God. Yet, he was not a true believer, only a professor, as the remainder of the passage confirms. Thus, he provides an example consistent with the mere profession that is described by Matthew in the parables and which we see all around us today.

One final comment is required here. Some mistakenly use the statement made by the Lord Jesus to Nicodemus in John 3:3 to argue that only true believers can be in the kingdom of God. They distinguish in this way between the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God. This would seem to set aside the lessons from Philip’s preaching. The problem is that Nicodemus was indeed looking for the kingdom of God, but early in the gospel of John that is what we would call the “Millennial kingdom.” This would correspond to the kingdom as presented by the Lord Jesus in Matthew before chapter 13. That kingdom was rejected in Matthew chapter 12. Nevertheless, Paul tells us in Romans 9–11 that the kingdom will still be realized. But, that is still in the future and depends on Israel’s repentance. At that time the Lord’s words will surely be fulfilled. So, we need to be careful not to misplace these separate lines of truth.4 

We now have the background to consider the significance of “binding” and “loosing.” The first point that must be insisted on is that any human action cannot set aside righteousness. So, it is impossible to accept that either the binding or the loosing could contradict what is deemed righteous by heaven. Clearly, they represent administration with respect to the kingdom. Since we have seen that this is an earthly sphere of administration and that failure can attend human actions, the administration consists of those actions which men enjoin which are in fact righteous and can be authorized by heaven.5 

Yeshua gave his disciples the authority over his church to bind (to prohibit, forbid) and loose (to permit), and he said that heaven would respect their decisions (Matt 16:17–19). They, in fact, exercised this divine authority in Acts chapter 15 at the first Jerusalem counsel.

Bind as used in the Matt 16:19 and Matt 18:18 is the Greek word deo meaning “to bind tie, fasten, to bind, fasten with chains, to throw into chains, being bound by Satan or his demons, put under obligation of the law, to be bound to one, a wife, a husband, to forbid, prohibit, declare to be illicit.” The counterpart to binding is loosing, which is the Greek word luo meaning “to loose any person (or thing) tied or fastened, to loose one bound (i.e. to unbind, release from bonds, set free), to loosen, undo, dissolve, anything bound, tied, or compacted together.

The concept of binding and loosing was also a first century Jewish colloquial expressions relating to correctly or incorrectly interpreting the Torah. If the Jewish legal scholars believed that a person was incorrectly interpreting the meaning of a Torah law or one of the traditions of the elders, they accused him of breaking or loosening (luo) the law or making it less binding or less strict (deo). This was the case when Yeshua picked some grain to eat on the Sabbath in John 5:18. The NKJV and most English translations of this verse incorrectly state that “he broke the Sabbath.” This is a misleading, faulty and unfortunate translation of the Greek word luo. It is unthinkable and unscriptural that the perfect Yeshua actually sinned by violating the fourth commandment. In reality, he loosened the Jewish extra-biblical legal restrictions that forbad anyone from picking a handful of grain on the Sabbath to eat—something the Torah doesn’t consider work (as opposed to harvesting a field of grain), and thus doesn’t forbid. Luo in this sense may possibly be read into Matt 5:19, John 7:23, and 10:35 as well. 

• So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you.  James 4:7 AMP
  

• 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 16:19 KJV

• Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and ability] over all the power that the enemy [possesses]; and nothing shall in any way harm you.  Luke 10:19 AMP

• Truly I tell you, whatever you forbid and declare to be improper and unlawful on earth must be what is already forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit and declare proper and lawful on earth must be what is already permitted in heaven.  Matthew 18:18 AMP 

• There shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity come near your tent. For He will give His angels charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service].  Psalms 91:10-11 AMP

• The reverent fear and worshipful awe of the Lord [includes] the hatred of evil; pride, arrogance, the evil way, and perverted and twisted speech I hate.  Proverbs 8:13 AMP

When Jesus was raised from the dead, He stripped Satan of his authority over mankind which was originally given to men and women by God Almighty (Gen. 1:26). That authority has been delegated to the Body of Christ in the earth (Mark 16:17-18). We bind Satan in the name of Jesus. We are not under a curse of any kind once we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, but we still resist any evil that is on the earth by listening and following the Lords teachings then by taking authority over evil (Luke 10:19). As we rebuke and bind it from the root we seal the manifestation of evil assignments from master spirits that work against us and others.

The prayer of binding and loosing halts Satan’s activities. God intends for the Body of Christ to police the evil forces of this world. We are to change circumstances to line up with God’s will and put Satan under our feet through the power of God. We are to spoil Satan’s plans, plots and maneuvers against God’s people.

Exercise your faith in Jesus and enforce the authority vested in the Church (Born-again Christians) by speaking directly to Satan, binding his work and rendering him helpless in your situation in the name of Jesus. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep, Ps. 121:4.

In order to be effective in spiritual warfare His disciples must recognize the authority, represented in His name, upon which His Church is built. The Church will accomplish its victory with the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven and these keys are the power to bind and loose. Keys are a symbol of authority.

Now thank God that Satan is bound and unable to work in that particular situation and refuse to give him any more place in it by talking about the problem after you have agreed and bound him, talk the answer instead and the answer is - God’s Word.

Though I walk in the flesh, I do not war according to the flesh.  I thank You that Your hand might be with me and You would keep me from evil so it might not hurt me, I Chron. 4:10. 

Spend some time in praise and worship with thanksgiving (singing will bring you into His presence, thanksgiving will bring you into His gates, praise will cause you to enter His courts and worship will allow you to go into the Holy of Holies). Cast your cares and burdens upon the Lord remembering that you do not fight spiritual battles in your own strength; you fight them in the strength of the Lord.

Make certain you are properly adorned: put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provisions for the flesh – lust, envy, strife, bitterness, fornication, hatred, and so forth (Ro. 13:14; Gal. 5:19-20).  Declare that you have on the whole armor of God (Eph. 6:13-18). Use your authority and weapons as you pray this prayer out loud. Your authority and weapons include: The Blood of Jesus, the name of Jesus, the Word/sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:16-18), the anointing, forgiveness, praying in the spirit, tithing, offerings, love, the fruit of the spirit, marching/walking/stomping/dancing/clapping/silence/shouting (Dr. Cindy Trimm). Angels excel and are strengthened as the saints speak the Word of God and declare the Blood of Jesus.  

INTRO TO PRAYER

This entire prayer was compiled and paraphrased in certain areas from various ministries including Dr. Cindy Trimm, Kenneth Copeland, and a host of other ministries including our own to create a dynamic warfare prayer to bind evil and loose righteousness in the earth as well as  in our circumstances.

PRAYER

I HAVE ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD AND I DECREE AND DECLARE:

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [whose power no foe can withstand], (Ps 91:1). I am in my set place in the spirit and in the natural, therefore, who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies, (Romans 8:33). Jesus is the last Adam, He is my Mediator making intercession for me, (I Tim. 2:5).

A thousand may fall at my side and ten thousand at my right hand, but it shall not come near me, Ps 91:7. One can put a thousand to flight and two ten thousand according to His word in Deut. 32:30. I renounce and bind all soul ties that would distract my mind from my prayer assignment. I bind all financial, emotional, physical, associational, political and professional distractions against my private time with God and my prayer assignment.  I renounce and bind assignments of distractions that waste precious time or forms of manipulation that would infiltrate my spiritual life. 

I have authority in this house and I have the right to set the atmosphere here, therefore, I decree, declare, and receive as I release by faith the PEACE, REST, HEART, WILL and JOY of the Lord to come into this house where the presence of the Lord is welcome, for it says in the book of Isaiah 32:18, that my home is suppose to be a peaceable habitation, a quiet resting place and the house of the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall stand, Prov. 12:7; Isa. 22:22; Luke 10:19, Galatians 5:22-23.          

Every demonic agenda or evil thought pattern designed against the agenda of the Kingdom of God is destroyed at the root of conception, in Jesus’ name! The Lord has given me dominion (authority and rulership) over the elements of gold, silver, weather, all materials, places, products and all the works of His hands; He has put all things under my feet (Ps. 8:6).  I commit to walk in this dominion daily. I shall not be denied but will be strong in the Lord and stand firm and do exploits [for God], Dan. 11:32.

 I decree and declare a new day, a new season and a fresh anointing.  My prayers will disrupt dark plans and give those sent to me as enemies a non-prosperous day.  I have victory every morning and every day and in every battle in Jesus’ name Prov. 22:4.

Therefore, I nullify diabolical decisions and rulings concerning my life, my ministry and the lives of family members (immediate, extended, spiritual), friends, associates, my city, state and country. I deprive master spirits of possession of anything in the Kingdom of God that is mine, any and all diabolical blocks are destroyed as I employ Michael, archangels, strong angels and the angelic host to handle any satanic contentions, disputes, strivings and resistance concerning this injunction that includes all specified acts for my life. Daniel 3:24-25, 6:22, 10:13; Heb. 1:14; Psalm 91:11, 103:20; 2 Chronicles 32:21; 2 Kings 7:5-7.

I resist satanic contentions, intentions, provocations, and negotiations concerning my life and my soul, and superimpose prophetic purpose and divine destiny over and against all activities and opposing forces that are contrary to the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning my life.       

No one can curse what the Heavenly Father has chosen to bless according to Numbers 23:8, therefore, my loved ones and I receive and live a long and strong life with the material Blessing from the Abrahamic Covenant and the ‘Spiritual Blessings of Jesus’ both possible because of what Jesus did for me, Gal. 3:14 and Ephesians 1:3.

In addition, I choose to repent of all sin and unbelief that may have opened any door for satanic activity or a curse to come in my life and I now break and destroy that curse and decree the completion of that curse over myself, my family and generations to come. That curse can no longer manifest or operate in my life. 2 Cor. 7:10; 2 Peter 3:9; Acts 5:29-31; Ps 38:1-22. 

NO weapon formed against me shall prosper (Isa. 54:17), therefore,  I overrule and overthrow the plans of trouble makers, scoffers, persecutors, character assassins, all ill-spoken words, ill wishes, enchantments, divinations, spells, hexes, curses, witchcraft prayers, soulish prayers, every tormenting spirit sent by a witch, warlock, sorcerer, spiritualist or person from the dark side (Deut. 18:9-14), every idle word spoken contrary to God’s original plans and purposes and I reverse the curse associated with these utterances and decree and declare that they shall not stand, they shall not come to pass, they shall not take root because I am redeemed from the hand of the enemy (Ps. 107:2) by the Blood of the Lamb.

Father you disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against me and made a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him and in it the cross, Col. 2:15. Right now in the name of Jesus, I command satan’s representatives to be exposed. Grant me divine strategies and tactics to identify, to resist and overcome the plots and plans established for my demise.

Father I further ask that You continue to reveal, expose and remove anything and anyone that is not right or good for my family or me and what you purposed for my personal life, family, ministry, business or work. I bind, resist and block backlash, revenge, retaliation, retribution, transference of evil spirits of the enemy and their violent verbal dealings and tactics are returned back against them double-fold as they fall into the very pit they dug for me, (Prov. 28:10, Prov. 26:27).

I rebuke, bind, block and seal all evil assignments sent by any master spirits including Sabotage, Azazel (making you the scapegoat), Fear, Jabin, Ahab, Jezebel (controlling, destroys your identity), Baal, Infirmity, Strife, Python (spirit of divination; a snake sent to squeeze the life out of a victim: a person, family, church or territory), Leviathan (Lying Tongue - lies, gossip, accusation, criticism, faultfinding and slander), Agitation (irritated, impatient, expressing anger), Rebellion,  Affliction (devours-families, finances to poverty, social life, and your physical, mental & emotional health), Seducing Spirits (counterfeit of the anointing), Waster Spirit (time robber), Pisgah (tries to block your breakthrough),  Insecurity, Inferiority, Sanballat (distractions), Tobiah, Amalek (death), Rejection, Eglon (excess tax), Affinity (soul ties, familiar spirits, carnality, generational curses and unholy alliances) and every head of the Hydra (recurring curses) they cannot touch a child of God who is redeemed by the Blood of Jesus.  I further bind, block and resist all evil assignments of pride, discouragement, divination, condemnation, intimidation, despair, deception, confusion, distractions, perversion, locusts (come to eat up what I do, receive and to consume my harvest), hindering spirits, spirits that cause miscarriages to abort dreams and visions are also bound that were sent to stop my household and me in  the name of  Jesus, They Must Go Now!

I also rebuke, bind, block and resist all spiritual wickedness in high places on assignment to world leaders in high places and world rulers on assignment to my family, neighborhood and people in my city and state as I dismantle the power of world rulers from over their heads now, in Jesus’ name.

I bind every force that would attempt to capture my destiny illegitimately. I bind every destiny pirate, destiny thief, and destiny devourer in the name of Jesus. I bind, rebuke and block principalities, evil powers, evil strongmen, evil doorkeepers, evil gatekeepers, evil spies, evil voices, evil vows, the rulers of the darkness of this world (master spirits), spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places, spirits working through people coming against me, self-righteousness, murder, disorientation, religion, complaining, divorce, unforgiveness, bitterness, profanity, doubt, headaches, sin while angry, lust, procrastination, selfishness, lack, idolatry, poverty, a poverty mentality, slave mentality, accidents, cause and effects, spirit of separation, depression, self-pity, manifestation of any evil assigned to me, too much television and computers, bondage, spiritual blindness, fatigue, guilt, drunkenness, gossip, criticism, greed, cursing, forgetfulness, anxiety, envy, jealousy, compromising, cravings, sexual immorality, addictions, mind control, stress, slumber, slothfulness, mammon, hopelessness, all terrorist in America especially in every major city, all malls, the spirit of Eglon (a spirit that taxes and oppresses) and spirits against free enterprise and capitalism are all bound in the name of Jesus.

 I will not allow any demonic assignment to stop me (Isaiah 22:22). I also decree and declare that the demonic double portion shall not manifest. Let the demonic anointing of the vicious cycle decrease until it is dried up. The threefold cord of the cycle is disconnected. Thank You Father God that You have given me the power through Your Son Jesus to shut down the authority of the demons that send false winds from the four corners of the earth. The ruach (Spirit) of God has overtaken them and there is no grace for the enemies that oversee this curse. Demonic grace is bound, and there shall be no time, resources, or favor that will work against the will of God in Jesus’ name.

NOW I THANK YOU FATHER THAT JESUS/YESHUA destroyed the power of every curse and recurring curses in my bloodline when He went to Calvary so I choose not to receive or allow any curse that is sent but instead choose to enter into a new cycle of blessings released in this new season in Jesus’ name.  

I thank You that my heart is pure before You. I also release prayer, forgiveness, repentance, fasting, intercession, giving and action on my part as I call forth the Spirit of Truth, Light, discernment of spirits, and the wisdom of God to know what to do and when to do it in Jesus Name (Eph. 6:12; Judges 4:3, Neh. 6:1).

 I welcome HOLY SPIRIT into everything that concerns my life and I purpose to pray in tongues (my spiritual language) more often so I can continuously be built up and allow the Holy Spirit to pray through me.  I thank You Father God that I am quickened by the Spirit to pray, fast, watch, worship, study the Word and to do warfare on behalf of the Kingdom of God. I realize that as I confess the Word of God I can then take possession of the things I am confessing.  I pray that I will only speak positive spirit-filled words concerning me.  If I confess negative things I will repent and dig those word up and put them under the blood of Jesus.  Then I will not  take possession of those negative things and have what I said.  Holy Spirit I thank you for helping me to keep my confession straight and in line with the will of God. Christ’s divine presence within me preserves me against evil and the wicked one does not lay hold (get a grip) on me or touch me (I John 5:18) in Jesus’ name. I am dead to sin but alive to God (Romans 6:11), therefore, I remain humble before God and God helps the humble (Phil 2:4-5).

My spiritual life is prosperous and no good thing will be held back from me. Any and everything that I put my hands to the plow to do is blessed. I decree and declare that all the enemy has stolen through my generational bloodline is restored one hundredfold now because I have asked for forgiveness and repented for whatever sins that were committed and not dealt with by my three previous generations in Jesus’ name. In addition, God robbing is broken out of my bloodline (Mal. 3:8-10). The blessing of Abraham is mine and it is over taking me.  I am stedfast (established, immovable, firm in purpose and rooted) in my set place and my enemies have no power to stand against me, therefore, darkness is clearing away and the true Light (the revelation of God in Christ) is already shining, I John 2:8.  If I get out of my set place (physically or spiritually) it will hinder the authority I have over my territory, therefore, thank you Lord for giving me the wisdom and strength to remain in my set place.

I am the just, therefore, I will live by faith, and if I draw back and shrink in fear, God’s soul has no delight or pleasure in me. I do not, therefore, fling away my fearless confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward, Hebrews 10:38.

I praise You Heavenly Father that You have given me authority to dispatch ministering angels to work on my behalf and behalf of my household, as heirs of salvation, therefore, I say ministering spirits, I loose you in the name of Jesus to minister on my behalf according to the will of God (Heb. 1:13-14). I pray for the strong angel, one with might to overcome. The angel that is stronger than rulers of darkness and principalities assigned to my territory which includes my body and home. I pray for the strong angel to come loud against the powers that have tried to hold me back. I also loose warring, prosperity, property, turn around, restoration angels and other types of heavenly angelic forces unknown to me to do according to the will of God for my life and my loved ones in Jesus’ name.

Thank You that the following promises were released on my behalf and behalf of my love ones when we received Jesus as our Lord and Savior: righteousness, joy, peace, balance, the favor of God, restoration, comfort, influence, respect, Your love, the fear of the Lord, self control, breakthroughs, health, wealth, land, property, hope, double portions, honor, liberty, miracles, patience, humility, strategies, ideas, gentleness, kindness, goodness, God’s Glory, holiness, boldness, divine connections, wisdom, knowledge, understanding, discernment, a sound mind, a supernatural memory, revelation, healing, deliverance, salvation, faith, faithfulness, prosperity, godly relationships, the spirit of Ehud which is sent to deliver me from excessive tax and oppression, finances in the abundance of millions and billions of dollars and resources that have been demonically blocked are now released unto me and all those in my household, church family and church leaders in the Body of Christ in agreement with what I have decreed, declared to come forth. I shall possess double for my trouble (Isa. 61:7) in Jesus’ Holy name (Ps 118:25; Ps 35:27; Isa 61:9).

I am making a demand and instructing my seed as well as commanding ‘The Blessing’ that belongs to me to come forth now, you have no choice but to come to me now. I am standing on James 5:4 which says, that my cries as a harvester have come to the ears of the Lord of hosts. I am blessed, wealthy, healthy, prosperous, joyful and preserved. I receive now and apply all to my life, my household, my ministry, my work place and/or businesses.

Father I thank You as I decree and declare that the Blood of Jesus draws a bloodline according to Your Word in Romans 5:9; 17 over myself; my spouse; my immediate family; my extended family; my spiritual family; friends; church family; marriages and godly families, anointed men and women of God; the Kingdom of God; Godly world leaders; America and the White House; Israel and Jerusalem; Godly judges in America; our military men and women; Israel’s armed forces and other allies with America; California; the godly homeless; the remnant of God; Christian corporations and businesses are all covered under the Blood of Jesus. I also declare that all of us have on the Whole Armor of God in Jesus’ name, (Eph. 6:12-18; Ps 91; Ro 5:9; I John 1:7).

The Blood of Jesus also covers my inheritance; business income; payroll; assets; investments; funds to pay taxes; all properties; bank and credit union accounts; library, administrative, biblical books and all resources; our personal, business and tax records; P.O. boxes; computers and all electronic devices; computer drives; all wireless and land electronic forms of communication; websites; and social media sites. The Blood also covers our homes; personal autos; personal and business items and equipment; and furnishings for our homes and businesses in Jesus’ name. Amen.

NIGHT WATCHES
Reference for Night Watches: Kimberly Daniels’ Book – Give It Back!

THE JEWS SET UP THREE (3) NIGHT WATCHES:

FIRST WATCH:  6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Beginning of the watches; first in time, place and rank.  Most easily shaken; apostolic watch. Time people lifted their hands to the Lord for the lives of their children. Time that darkness could be easily shaken, Lam 2:19.  Watch as well as pray Luke 21:36 (keep awake and watch).

SECOND OR MIDDLE WATCH: 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.        
Strategy; womb of the watch; central watch that everything else was built around; also the watch that evil seed was planted against the righteous. Midnight warfare watch; all of the watches belong to God, and the ones who do evil work it in vain because your prayer will cause what they are doing to be shaken to the ground at sunrise, Judges 7:19.

THIRD OR MORNING WATCH: 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.
Last watch; the watch we gain victory over enemies in the morning. Refers to breaking of the day, plow break through, seek out.  This is the fruit of the morning watch.  When faithful and dedicated, you can expect victory over your enemies every time, Exo. 14:24; I Samuel 11:11.

THE ROMANS CHANGED IT TO FOUR NIGHT WATCHES:

• 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.    – First Watch
  
• 9:00 p.m. to midnight    -  Second or Middle Watch
  
• Midnight to 3:00 a.m.    – Third or Middle Watch
  
• 3:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.   –  Fourth or Morning Watch