Luke 12
Guest Speaker Minister Elton Walker
Witness key throughout the Bible: H4668 maphteach-- key, opening instrument
Judges 3:25they tarried till they were ashamed: and, behold, he opened not the doors of the parlour; therefore they took a key, H4668 and opened them: and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead
on the earth.
The Torah ...............
The prophets ..................
Isaiah 22:22 And the key H4668 of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.
The writings ...........................
1 Chronicle 9:27 And they lodged round about the house of God, because the charge was upon them, and the opening H4668 thereof every morning pertained to them.
Matthew 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.
Luke 12:32 Have no fear, little flock, for your Father has resolved to give you the Kingdom!
UNDERSTANDING THE KINGDOM CONCEPT OF KEYS
In essence, all nations and kingdoms contain inherent principles and laws that must be adhered to by each citizen in order for the citizen to benefit from his citizenship privileges and rights. These laws and principles are called by Yeshua, “Keys of the Kingdom.”
What good are keys you can’t use? They are as useless as locks you can’t open. This is exactly the problem with many believers today. We have a big bunch of “keys” called “Scriptures” that most of us don’t know how to use. We have the keys, but we don’t know which key unlocks which lock. It’s like having all of this information but not knowing how to use it, having all of this power available to us but not knowing how to apply it.
Knowledge of the Word of God is important, but insufficient by itself for effective living as a believer. This is because most believers lack a proper Kingdom mind-set. Part of understanding the Kingdom is learning how to use the keys of the Kingdom. The Kingdom of Heaven is God’s desire and purpose for us. Yeshua said:
Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom (Luke 12:32).
Our Father, the King of heaven, has given us the Kingdom. It is ours. In fact, Jesus Himself brought the Kingdom to us. It was His main purpose in coming to earth in human flesh. We receive the Kingdom through His death.
KEYS OF THE KINGDOM
One day Yeshua asked His disciples, His inner circle of 12 most intimate followers, the most important question He would ever ask them.
Mathew 16:13-16
13 When Yeshua came into the territory around Caesarea Philippi, he asked his talmidim, “Who are people saying the Son of Man is?” 14 They said, “Well, some say Yochanan the Immerser, others Eliyahu, still others Yirmeyahu or one of the prophets.” 15 “But you,” he said to them, “who do you say I am?” 16 Shim‘on Kefa answered, “You are the Mashiach, the Son of the living God.”
The titles “Christ” and “Son of the living God” were reserved exclusively for the Messiah, the deliverer of Israel and hope of the world who had been prophesied for centuries.
Yeshua says that upon the “rock” of Peter’s confession of faith, He will build His “church.” The Greek word for “church” is ecclesia, a word that is widely misunderstood. Because it is translated here as “church,” most people believe that ecclesia is a religious word.
It is not. Ecclesia is a governmental term. It literally means “called-out ones” and was used by the Greeks to refer to the senate or other political groups that were chosen by the “democrat,” or government.
The fact that Yeshua used ecclesia to describe the body of followers that He was establishing tells us two things. First, the word church itself is a political rather than a religious term. And second, this entire discussion about keys and about binding and loosing is not a religious but a political discussion.
The ecclesia, therefore, is a secret group entrusted with secret information critical for the operation of the Kingdom. This group will be so powerful that even the “gates of hades will not overcome it.” Another way to translate that phrase is, “the gates of hades will not prove stronger than it.” Even hell itself will not be as strong as the ecclesia that Yeshua is establishing.
What this means is that we who are Kingdom citizens are supposed to be operating on a level that blows other people’s minds. We should have access to a power that mystifies those who are not yet in the Kingdom. We are supposed to be living life at a certain level where we are tapping into resources that others cannot explain.
As Kingdom citizens, we are already in the Kingdom; we don’t need the keys to it. What we need—and what Yeshua has given us—are the keys of the Kingdom—the keys that will unlock the power of the Kingdom and make it work in our lives. Kingdom citizens and only Kingdom citizens have these keys. Citizenship in the Kingdom is a prerequisite for getting them.
KNOWLEDGE OF THE SECRETS
The key to keys is not having keys. The key to keys is knowledge, knowing what the keys are for and how to use them. On another occasion Yeshua told His “cabinet”:
Luke 8:10
The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you
A miracle is something that humans cannot explain, an event or occurrence that seems to defy the laws of nature. These men had seen Yeshua walk on water, heal the sick, raise the dead, shrivel a tree by speaking to it, calm a storm, multiply bread, and many other “miraculous” things that were beyond the ken of human experience.
But to Yeshua, none of these were miracles. He said, “These are no miracles; I’m just using keys. I know how to put them in the locks, and they are unlocking prosperity, unlocking healing, unlocking peace, unlocking authority.
I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it (John 14:12-14).
Yeshua’ ecclesia (which includes us) was going to do the same things He was doing—and more—because the Holy Spirit who would come after He was gone would teach them the keys of the Kingdom and how to use them.
One significant key is embedded in this passage: the key to opening the “warehouse” of Heaven. The key that opens that lock is prayer—asking in Yeshua’s name—and whatever and anything we ask will be done. That is a wide-open promise, but it is not a way to gratify our own selfish wants and desires. We must use the right key.
We must ask in Yeshua’s name—according to His will and in line with His purpose. That is what will open Heaven’s floodgates. The twelve disciples of Yeshua had already seen this key activated in unforgettable fashion the day Yeshua fed five thousand people with fives loaves of bread and two fish.
Yeshua replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. “Bring them here to Me,” He said. And He directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children (Matthew 14:16-21)
Yeshua used this situation to test His disciples to see if they picked up on the secrets. He said, “You feed them.” That was the test. They should have asked, “Which key do we use?” Instead, they said, “All we have is….”
They were limited by what they could see. But in the Kingdom of Heaven we walk not by sight but by faith. The lesson Yeshua wanted them (and us) to learn is that when you know the keys to the Kingdom secrets, you will never again say, “All I have is….”
SEVEN PRINCIPLES OF KEYS
Knowledge leads to understanding. Once we know the principles behind keys, we can understand how they work in the Kingdom. There are several principles that define the properties of keys.
1. Keys represent authority. If you possess a key to a place, it means you have authority in that place.
2. Keys represent access. A key gives you instant access to everything that key opens.
3. Keys represent ownership. Possession of a key gives you de facto ownership of whatever that key opens.
4. Keys represent control. If you possess the key to something, you control it.
5. Keys represent authorization.
6. Keys represent power. Whoever gives you keys gives you power at the same time.
7. Keys represent freedom. When you have keys, you are free to go in and out.
SEVEN CHARACTERISTICS OF KEYS
1. Keys are laws. They are fixed, reliable standards that never change. When used correctly, they always work.
2. Keys are principles .The keys of the Kingdom are principles, systems that operate under fixed laws.
3. Keys are systems. Every government runs on systems: the social system, the economic system, the political system, the educational system, the telecommunications system, etc.
4. Keys activate function.
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment (1 Timothy 6:17).
5. Keys initiate action
6. Keys are the principles by which the Kingdom of God operates. Not only are keys principles, but specifically, keys to the operation of the Kingdom. They give us access to the blueprints, the schematic, and the flowcharts so
7. .
8. Keys cannot be substituted by feelings, emotions, wishful thinking, or manipulation
THE COUNTERINTUITIVE NATURE OF KEYS
coun·ter·in·tu·i·tive
[ˌkoun(t)ərinˈt(y)o͞oədiv]
ADJECTIVE
1. contrary to intuition or to common-sense expectation (but often nevertheless true).
It is this very counterintuitive quality of the Kingdom of heaven that makes it so hard for the world to understand. The Kingdom of Heaven and the kingdoms of this world operate by completely opposite principles. People raised in the world’s system cannot comprehend on their own the truly otherworldly nature of God’s Kingdom. This is why Simon Peter could not recognize Yeshua as the Messiah except by divine revelation.
As Yeshua started on His way, a man ran up to Him and fell on his knees before Him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call Me good?” Yeshua answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” Yeshua looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” He said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Yeshua looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:17-23).
Once we get into the Kingdom and start functioning properly, we inevitably become prosperous. Prosperity is a natural product of Kingdom living. But we must live by the standards of the Kingdom in order to prosper in the Kingdom.
Additionally, it is the power of ignorance of Kingdom keys that can destroy us. Scripture says:
“My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6).
Once you get the keys of the Kingdom and learn how they work, the blessing of God will bring you wealth without sorrow. And He can do it in an instant if He is so inclined.
The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, and He adds no trouble to it (Proverbs 10:22)
The way most of us in this world pursue success and wealth and try to get ahead is completely contrary to the principles and laws that God designed into creation. But we are too blinded by our corrupt minds to see it. Climbing the corporate ladder by walking on people’s heads and stepping on their hands, hurt them, use them selfishly, scheme against them, betray them, lie, cheat, steal—whatever it takes to be a millionaire before the age of 40.
Because of our fallen nature of human reasoning, the principles and keys of the Kingdom of God are completely foreign to the way we have been trained to think. That is why the first word Yeshua said when He came to announce the Kingdom was, “Repent.” Change the way you think.
Principles work but are not always understood. Principles are established by the manufacturer!!!
PRINCIPLES
1. Life in the Kingdom is really about returning to the governing authority of God in the earth and learning how to live and function in that authority.
2. The Kingdom of Heaven is not a secret society, but its keys have to be learned.
3. When you know the keys to the Kingdom secrets, you will never again say, “All I have is….”
4. Keys represent authority.
5. Keys represent access.
6. Keys represent ownership.
7. Keys represent control.
8. Keys represent authorization.
9. Keys represent power.
10. Keys represent freedom.
11. The keys of the Kingdom are the keys to ultimate truth, the knowledge of which brings true liberty.
on the earth.
The Torah ...............
The prophets ..................
Isaiah 22:22 And the key H4668 of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.
The writings ...........................
1 Chronicle 9:27 And they lodged round about the house of God, because the charge was upon them, and the opening H4668 thereof every morning pertained to them.
Matthew 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.
Luke 12:32 Have no fear, little flock, for your Father has resolved to give you the Kingdom!
UNDERSTANDING THE KINGDOM CONCEPT OF KEYS
In essence, all nations and kingdoms contain inherent principles and laws that must be adhered to by each citizen in order for the citizen to benefit from his citizenship privileges and rights. These laws and principles are called by Yeshua, “Keys of the Kingdom.”
What good are keys you can’t use? They are as useless as locks you can’t open. This is exactly the problem with many believers today. We have a big bunch of “keys” called “Scriptures” that most of us don’t know how to use. We have the keys, but we don’t know which key unlocks which lock. It’s like having all of this information but not knowing how to use it, having all of this power available to us but not knowing how to apply it.
Knowledge of the Word of God is important, but insufficient by itself for effective living as a believer. This is because most believers lack a proper Kingdom mind-set. Part of understanding the Kingdom is learning how to use the keys of the Kingdom. The Kingdom of Heaven is God’s desire and purpose for us. Yeshua said:
Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom (Luke 12:32).
Our Father, the King of heaven, has given us the Kingdom. It is ours. In fact, Jesus Himself brought the Kingdom to us. It was His main purpose in coming to earth in human flesh. We receive the Kingdom through His death.
KEYS OF THE KINGDOM
One day Yeshua asked His disciples, His inner circle of 12 most intimate followers, the most important question He would ever ask them.
Mathew 16:13-16
13 When Yeshua came into the territory around Caesarea Philippi, he asked his talmidim, “Who are people saying the Son of Man is?” 14 They said, “Well, some say Yochanan the Immerser, others Eliyahu, still others Yirmeyahu or one of the prophets.” 15 “But you,” he said to them, “who do you say I am?” 16 Shim‘on Kefa answered, “You are the Mashiach, the Son of the living God.”
The titles “Christ” and “Son of the living God” were reserved exclusively for the Messiah, the deliverer of Israel and hope of the world who had been prophesied for centuries.
Yeshua says that upon the “rock” of Peter’s confession of faith, He will build His “church.” The Greek word for “church” is ecclesia, a word that is widely misunderstood. Because it is translated here as “church,” most people believe that ecclesia is a religious word.
It is not. Ecclesia is a governmental term. It literally means “called-out ones” and was used by the Greeks to refer to the senate or other political groups that were chosen by the “democrat,” or government.
The fact that Yeshua used ecclesia to describe the body of followers that He was establishing tells us two things. First, the word church itself is a political rather than a religious term. And second, this entire discussion about keys and about binding and loosing is not a religious but a political discussion.
The ecclesia, therefore, is a secret group entrusted with secret information critical for the operation of the Kingdom. This group will be so powerful that even the “gates of hades will not overcome it.” Another way to translate that phrase is, “the gates of hades will not prove stronger than it.” Even hell itself will not be as strong as the ecclesia that Yeshua is establishing.
What this means is that we who are Kingdom citizens are supposed to be operating on a level that blows other people’s minds. We should have access to a power that mystifies those who are not yet in the Kingdom. We are supposed to be living life at a certain level where we are tapping into resources that others cannot explain.
As Kingdom citizens, we are already in the Kingdom; we don’t need the keys to it. What we need—and what Yeshua has given us—are the keys of the Kingdom—the keys that will unlock the power of the Kingdom and make it work in our lives. Kingdom citizens and only Kingdom citizens have these keys. Citizenship in the Kingdom is a prerequisite for getting them.
KNOWLEDGE OF THE SECRETS
The key to keys is not having keys. The key to keys is knowledge, knowing what the keys are for and how to use them. On another occasion Yeshua told His “cabinet”:
Luke 8:10
The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you
A miracle is something that humans cannot explain, an event or occurrence that seems to defy the laws of nature. These men had seen Yeshua walk on water, heal the sick, raise the dead, shrivel a tree by speaking to it, calm a storm, multiply bread, and many other “miraculous” things that were beyond the ken of human experience.
But to Yeshua, none of these were miracles. He said, “These are no miracles; I’m just using keys. I know how to put them in the locks, and they are unlocking prosperity, unlocking healing, unlocking peace, unlocking authority.
I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it (John 14:12-14).
Yeshua’ ecclesia (which includes us) was going to do the same things He was doing—and more—because the Holy Spirit who would come after He was gone would teach them the keys of the Kingdom and how to use them.
One significant key is embedded in this passage: the key to opening the “warehouse” of Heaven. The key that opens that lock is prayer—asking in Yeshua’s name—and whatever and anything we ask will be done. That is a wide-open promise, but it is not a way to gratify our own selfish wants and desires. We must use the right key.
We must ask in Yeshua’s name—according to His will and in line with His purpose. That is what will open Heaven’s floodgates. The twelve disciples of Yeshua had already seen this key activated in unforgettable fashion the day Yeshua fed five thousand people with fives loaves of bread and two fish.
Yeshua replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. “Bring them here to Me,” He said. And He directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children (Matthew 14:16-21)
Yeshua used this situation to test His disciples to see if they picked up on the secrets. He said, “You feed them.” That was the test. They should have asked, “Which key do we use?” Instead, they said, “All we have is….”
They were limited by what they could see. But in the Kingdom of Heaven we walk not by sight but by faith. The lesson Yeshua wanted them (and us) to learn is that when you know the keys to the Kingdom secrets, you will never again say, “All I have is….”
SEVEN PRINCIPLES OF KEYS
Knowledge leads to understanding. Once we know the principles behind keys, we can understand how they work in the Kingdom. There are several principles that define the properties of keys.
1. Keys represent authority. If you possess a key to a place, it means you have authority in that place.
2. Keys represent access. A key gives you instant access to everything that key opens.
3. Keys represent ownership. Possession of a key gives you de facto ownership of whatever that key opens.
4. Keys represent control. If you possess the key to something, you control it.
5. Keys represent authorization.
6. Keys represent power. Whoever gives you keys gives you power at the same time.
7. Keys represent freedom. When you have keys, you are free to go in and out.
SEVEN CHARACTERISTICS OF KEYS
1. Keys are laws. They are fixed, reliable standards that never change. When used correctly, they always work.
2. Keys are principles .The keys of the Kingdom are principles, systems that operate under fixed laws.
3. Keys are systems. Every government runs on systems: the social system, the economic system, the political system, the educational system, the telecommunications system, etc.
4. Keys activate function.
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment (1 Timothy 6:17).
5. Keys initiate action
6. Keys are the principles by which the Kingdom of God operates. Not only are keys principles, but specifically, keys to the operation of the Kingdom. They give us access to the blueprints, the schematic, and the flowcharts so
7. .
8. Keys cannot be substituted by feelings, emotions, wishful thinking, or manipulation
THE COUNTERINTUITIVE NATURE OF KEYS
coun·ter·in·tu·i·tive
[ˌkoun(t)ərinˈt(y)o͞oədiv]
ADJECTIVE
1. contrary to intuition or to common-sense expectation (but often nevertheless true).
It is this very counterintuitive quality of the Kingdom of heaven that makes it so hard for the world to understand. The Kingdom of Heaven and the kingdoms of this world operate by completely opposite principles. People raised in the world’s system cannot comprehend on their own the truly otherworldly nature of God’s Kingdom. This is why Simon Peter could not recognize Yeshua as the Messiah except by divine revelation.
As Yeshua started on His way, a man ran up to Him and fell on his knees before Him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call Me good?” Yeshua answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” Yeshua looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” He said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Yeshua looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:17-23).
Once we get into the Kingdom and start functioning properly, we inevitably become prosperous. Prosperity is a natural product of Kingdom living. But we must live by the standards of the Kingdom in order to prosper in the Kingdom.
Additionally, it is the power of ignorance of Kingdom keys that can destroy us. Scripture says:
“My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6).
Once you get the keys of the Kingdom and learn how they work, the blessing of God will bring you wealth without sorrow. And He can do it in an instant if He is so inclined.
The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, and He adds no trouble to it (Proverbs 10:22)
The way most of us in this world pursue success and wealth and try to get ahead is completely contrary to the principles and laws that God designed into creation. But we are too blinded by our corrupt minds to see it. Climbing the corporate ladder by walking on people’s heads and stepping on their hands, hurt them, use them selfishly, scheme against them, betray them, lie, cheat, steal—whatever it takes to be a millionaire before the age of 40.
Because of our fallen nature of human reasoning, the principles and keys of the Kingdom of God are completely foreign to the way we have been trained to think. That is why the first word Yeshua said when He came to announce the Kingdom was, “Repent.” Change the way you think.
Principles work but are not always understood. Principles are established by the manufacturer!!!
PRINCIPLES
1. Life in the Kingdom is really about returning to the governing authority of God in the earth and learning how to live and function in that authority.
2. The Kingdom of Heaven is not a secret society, but its keys have to be learned.
3. When you know the keys to the Kingdom secrets, you will never again say, “All I have is….”
4. Keys represent authority.
5. Keys represent access.
6. Keys represent ownership.
7. Keys represent control.
8. Keys represent authorization.
9. Keys represent power.
10. Keys represent freedom.
11. The keys of the Kingdom are the keys to ultimate truth, the knowledge of which brings true liberty.
Shema Selah, for the keys of the kingdom are the principles of the King!! Let us return to our King and operate in His understanding!! https://www.facebook.com/fiveam.prayer/videos/1560579584020152/?l=6122379684579598569
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