Introduction

When Peter received the revelation that Jesus is Christ – the Son of God, the Lord promises to give him keys of the kingdom of heaven, which would allow him to bind and loose heavenly things on earth. In this teaching we will look at three gates of heaven that The Lord later reveals to Peter, and the three keys of the kingdom that unlock those gates.

The Keys of the Kingdom

Matthew 16:16-19 New King James Version (NKJV)

16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 

19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

In this teaching, we will look primarily at verse 19. Jesus is promising to give Peter keys of the kingdom of heaven, such that whatever he binds on earth becomes bound in heaven and whatever he looses on earth becomes loosed in heaven. We are going to follow the ministry of Peter and the apostles, to see when and where they received these keys.

The Three Gates

Jesus told Peter that he was going to build his church on the rock, and the gates of hell would not overcome it. Just as there are gates of hell, there are also gates of heaven. But before we look at the gates of hell, that would fight against the church, let us first understand the gates of heaven. 

So Peter is told that he will be given keys to the kingdom of heaven. These keys are for opening and shutting the gates of heaven. The gates that we shall look at are things on earth, that serve as doorways by which heavenly things can manifest on earth, and earthly things can be translated into heaven. Since we understand that the kingdom of God is contained in the Holy Spirit, we can know that those things that carry the Holy Spirit, those things by which the Holy Spirit manifests heavenly life onto the earth, serve as gates of heaven.

The Jesus Gate

The Kingdom of God is sometimes referred to as God’s house. However As Jesus is talking to the disciples, he reveals that God’s house has many mansions inside.

John 14:2-4 New King James Version (NKJV)

2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

These Mansions have their own doors which are locked and unlocked. But before you can get into the mansions, you must get into the house first and there is only one entrance to the house. Let’s hear Jesus as he explains further.

John 14:5-6 New King James Version (NKJV)

5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

So there is only one way to enter into God’s house, and that is through Jesus. He is the ultimate gate, or the door by which a human being can enter into to the kingdom of God.

John 10:7-9 New King James Version (NKJV)

7 Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.

The Key to the Jesus Gate

The Key to opening The Jesus Gate, is Faith. This Faith is very specific. It is Faith in Jesus., which is Faith in God.

Peter is shown this key of faith by Jesus as they walked outside of Jerusalem. After Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem as King on a donkey, He enters the temple, looks around and leaves without saying a word. He then goes out of Jerusalem, sees a fig tree and curses it. The next day, Peter notices that the fig tree was now withered. How is it Jesus could talk to a tree, and his declaration happens as he said?

Mark 11:20-24 New International Version (NIV)

20 In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. 21 Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

The first thing that Jesus says to Peter is, “Have Faith in God”. That is the key. Faith in God. What does the key unlock? Jesus shows Peter that if he commands anything on earth, and believes without doubting that God is going to do what he has commanded, then it will be done for him.

So in other words he is telling Peter that whatever he commands on earth, will be commanded in heaven, whatever he binds or looses on earth will be bound and loosed in heaven, as long as he has Faith in God, believing that God will do it, without doubting.

The Life of Christ

Aside from cursing fig trees and moving mountains, the greatest thing that faith in God/Jesus will unlock for you on earth is eternal life. Jesus is the Gate that leads to life.

Matthew 7:14 New King James Version (NKJV)

14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

John 3:16 New King James Version (NKJV)

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

This eternal life, is the life of Christ that we receive when we are born again into the kingdom of God. This new birth and new life comes when you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God who died to pay for your sins on the cross, and was resurrected so that you could be made righteous and receive new life.

This is why, Jesus starts by asking his disciples, who they thought he his.

Matthew 16:15-16 New International Version (NIV)

15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Believing in Jesus as the Christ, the son of the living God, is the key to unlocking the life of Christ.

This life of Christ carries the nature, the spirit, the power and kingdom of God. This life of Christ  is salvation. All the blessings, and all things of heaven are found inside this life. All other doors and gates are found within it and the gate to life, is Christ.

How to Acquire the Faith Key

So, how do you acquire this key that unlocks life, and makes it possible to command earthly objects and God does what you have commanded.

This Key called faith, does not come from human desire or ability, it comes from God. 

Ephesians 2:8 English Standard Version (ESV)

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

Romans 12:3 English Standard Version (ESV)

3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned

Okay, so faith is given to us from God. How does he do it? It’s not magic. God imparts his faith into us through his word.

Romans 10:14, 17 New King James Version (NKJV)

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

The words that have come out of the mouth of God are spirit and they carry in them the faith of God which brings life. Jesus puts it in this way.

John 6:63 English Standard Version (ESV)

63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

What we know about Jesus, determines what we believe about him. What we believe about him, determines what we can access from him. For it is through faith in him that we can access all things in him. This is one of the main reasons scriptures were written. To impart faith.

John 20:31 English Standard Version (ESV)

31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

This is why Jesus starts by asking Peter “Who do men say that I am?” When Peter has the revelation that Jesus was the Christ the Son of God, he had received from God, the key that unlocks the door which leads to all other doors.

How to Use The Faith Key

Let’s go back a bit, to Mark 11. 

In Mark 11, Jesus speaks to a tree, and what he declares concerning that tree, happens. There are many who have tried to curse trees and it did not work. Why? Because they did not consider Jesus full Answer.

Let’s look at Jesus full answer in stages.

Mark 11:22-26 New International Version (NIV)

22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

This is Jesus’ complete answer to the question of the fig tree. It gives us how faith works and how to acquire it.

a) Have Faith in God

To start with, you must have faith in God. You must believe that God exists and that he is able and wants to give you what you are asking. The book of Hebrews explains this well.

Hebrews 11:6 English Standard Version (ESV)

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

You have to believe that God is real, and that he is able to do what you are declaring, and that he wants to give you what you are asking. This is why faith comes through the word. The word tells us who God is, and what his will is for us. This is why you can not have faith, in contradiction to the word of God.

Faith in God vs Faith of God

The statement in the original greek is ECETE PISTIN QEOU, which can be translated as Have Faith in God, Have God’s Faith, Have Faith of God or Hold on to God’s Faithfulness and some have put it as Have the God kind of Faith.

Our perceptions of these variations will affect how we view faith and our relationship with God. So the question to be clarified is, do we need God’s involvement when we are making declarations, or as sons of God we can just do it by ourselves, as long as we have the ‘God kind of Faith’. The answer is no.

In light of the other scriptures that we have looked at, we know that Faith comes from God (Rom 12:3, 1 cor 12:9). This means that faith is not something you can manufacture in your heart by yourself. It has to be given to you by God. This then means that Faith in God, comes from God, and therefore is God’s faith.

Secondly, We have looked at scriptures that tell us that Faith comes by hearing, by the word (Rhema) of God (Rom 10:7). This means that God has to speak first, before you can have the faith to declare. You can only have faith in what God has said. If there is no Rhema word of God given to you, then you can’t have the faith.

Hebrews 12:2 says Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. He initiates the faith, and fulfils it. So you can’t make declarations independent of Christ.

However, Jesus in the next point Jesus goes on to show that it is not even you who moves the mountain by your faith, It is God himself. So all faith at the end of the day, is faith in God, who he is, and what he is willing to do for you.

B) Believe that those things will be done

23 “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.

There is someone else who will move the mountain for you. It’s not you, or your strength and faith. It is God. So you have to believe that God will move it. If it’s a tree that you are cursing, then you have to believe that God will curse it at your word.

What can give you the confidence that God will back your words: The apostle John tells us how we can be certain that what we have said will be done for us.

1 John 5:14-15 New International Version (NIV)

14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him

Jesus was not in the habit of cursing random trees. But it was God’s will for that tree to be cursed.

John 5:19-20 New International Version (NIV)

19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 

This statement did not just apply to Jesus, it applies to all sons of God. They can not do anything by themselves. They can only do what God is already doing. This is one of the signs of sons of God. They do things as they are led by the spirit of God.

Romans 8:14 New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁴ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

So when you are in line, with the word, will and purpose of God according to his spirit, you can declare things and God will do them.

C) Believe that you have received.

24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Jesus first says, believe that it will be done, and then he says, believe that you have received. We have partly explained this above. This is not about trying to force yourself to believe that God has already given you the car which you have declared. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word.

Everything that you will ever get from God, are things that he already gave you before the foundation of the world, and you already received those things in Christ Jesus.

If you know, the things that God has already given to you through Christ, when you pray, you are not trying to convince God, you are merely declaring into manifestation, what he has already assigned to you.

When you are born again, and receive Christ, there are certain things that you received through him.

1) All Heavenly Spiritual Blessings 

Ephesians 1:3 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In Christ, God has given us every spiritual blessing in heaven.

2) All things on earth, present and future

1 Corinthians 3:22 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

22 Paul, Apollos, Peter, the world, life, death, the present, and the future—all these are yours.

2 Peter 1:3 Revised Standard Version (RSV)

3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,

3) Deliverance from Satanic Forces

Colossians 1:13 Revised Standard Version (RSV)

13 He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,

Colossians 2:15 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

15 He defeated the rulers and powers of the spiritual world. With the cross he won the victory over them and led them away, as defeated and powerless prisoners for the whole world to see.

4) Healing and Forgiveness of Sins

1 Peter 2:24 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

24 Christ carried our sins in his body on the cross. He did this so that we would stop living for sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you were healed.

1 John 2:12 New Living Translation (NLT)

12 I am writing to you who are God’s children because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus.

In fact, it’s not just the sins of believers that were paid for. Jesus paid fully for all the sins of everyone in the whole world.

1 John 2:2 New International Version (NIV)

2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

So, everything that you will ever need or desire from God in this life was already given to you. However, it was given to you in Christ Jesus, meaning God placed it in Christ.

Christ is the gate to all these things. The key, is not money, or persuasion. The key, is faith in God. 

Romans 8:32 New King James Version (NKJV)

32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

In the kingdom of God, we ask only for those things that we know we have received

D) Forgive People Their Sins

25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

This is the part that many people tend to ignore. Jesus is still answering Peter’s question. Before you expect heaven to back your declaration, make sure that you have forgiven all sins of all people who have wronged you. What Jesus is saying, is that when you hold things against other people in your heart, you are also holding things against yourself in heaven. When you bind people in your heart, you are binding yourself in heaven.

Conclusion on the Faith Key

Jesus is the gate into God’s house or God’s kingdom. He is the gate to life. And through the Jesus gate, we have access to eternal life, divine power, all spiritual blessings and all things present and future.

However, this gate is unlocked by a key called faith in God. This faith comes from God through his word. This faith believes that God is real. This faith believes and has confidence that God has already given us the things that we are asking him, in Christ Jesus. This faith is not just head knowledge, it is an internal complete conviction of the truth. However this faith, can not be exercised by those who still hold grudges and fail to forgive the sins of others. Inability to forgive is in itself a sign of a lack of Faith in God.

Some people want to use their “faith” to fight, or oppose what they believe is the will of God for their lives. That is not Faith, that is rebellion and such thoughts come from Satan, the adversary. A desire to use ‘Faith’ against the will of God comes, when we don’t truly believe that God loves us completely, or that God desires good things for us, or that God truly wants what’s best for us. It comes when we don’t have faith in God’s word, his wisdom, his rule, his grace, his kindness, his mercy or his sovereignty.

In conclusion, a desire to use faith against the will of God, is a sign of unbelief. As Jesus said, “The son can do nothing without the Father.” If it applied to Jesus, it applies to all other sons of God.  For only those who follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, are the true sons of God.

So, even though all things are given to us, the sons of God, only give and take, bind and loose as they are led by the spirit of God. For the sons can do nothing, without the Father.

The Church Gate

The word church comes from the greek word ekklesia, which means a gathering. A church is a gathering of believers who are born again, whose names are written in heaven, and whose spirits are sitted in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 12:22-23 New International Version (NIV)

22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem.You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,

In Mathew chapter 18, The Lord reveals the church gate to Peter, and the key that unlocks it.

Matthew 18:15-20 New King James Version (NKJV)

15 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

18 “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.19 “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 

20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

Context

In this particular chapter, Jesus was teaching on how to deal with a brother or sister who has sinned against you. First you point out their error. If they don’t listen find another brother to tell them. If they don’t listen, tell it to the church. If they don’t listen to the church, then treat them like an unbeliever.

So in the context, he then revealed that whatever YOU (as a church) agree to bind on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever YOU (as a church) agree to loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

Jesus then explains that it only needs two believers for this gate to be opened. If two believers agree about anything that they ask for, it is done for them by God, because where two or more gather in Jesus name, He himself becomes a part of that gathering.

Also note, that even here, the one who does it for you, is God. You don’t do this by yourselves. It is God’s backing that makes things happen.

The Church Gate Key 

The church is the body of Christ and the temple of God, and therefore a door or gateway into the kingdom. However, Jesus reveals that the key to the church gate is agreement. 

Matthew 18:18-19 New International Version (NIV)

18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.

 If believers who are born again, are of one mind and one spirit, concerning what they are asking, it will be done for them, because Jesus will be among them.

Example – Dominion in Jerusalem

There are several examples I can give, but to keep things short, I will pick one. In Acts 3, at the foundation of the church, Peter and John healed a lame man at the entrance of the temple. People gathered to see what had happened and Peter began to preach the gospel to them. However, while he was still preaching, the priests came and arrested them, beat them and threatened them not to continue preaching in the name of Jesus.

In revelation chapter 3, Jesus warns of the synagogue of Satan, that was fighting the church. These saducees and priests who had placed this law, to forbid Peter and John from preaching, and healing the sick, were a manifestation of the synagogue of Satan. They were the first manifestations of a gate of Hell, trying to prevail against the church, which is a gate of heaven.

In response to this Peter and John gathered the church to make a prayer in agreement, asking for more boldness, and more signs and wonders.

Acts 4:24 New King James Version (NKJV)

24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them,

29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”

The church is a gate through which the word, power and wisdom of God can manifest on earth. So the gates of hell, had set a law, that bound the word from being preached, and the power from being manifested. Now Peter came together with the church and used the key of agreement, to loose the word and to loose the power of God in Jerusalem. Scripture says that they raised their VOICE, not voices, but their VOICE in ONE accord. That very moment, the heavenly powers shook the place they were in.

Acts 4:31 New International Version (NIV)

31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly

The Result.

The bible lists 7 things that happened after this prayer of agreement.

1. The apostles began to preach the word of God with great boldness.
2. No-one Lacked anything in the church.
3. There was so much presence of God around Peter and the church that when Ananias and Saffira lied to Peter, they died instantly. (Acts 5:1-11)
4. The church began to openly meet in Solomon’s porch, a section of the temple and no-one dared to speak to them. (Acts 5:13)
5. There was so much heavenly power flowing around Peter and the apostles that when Peter, was just walking in the street, his shadow would be casting demons, performing miracles and healing the sick. His shadow. (Acts 5:12, 15-16)
6. When the Sadducees got Peter and the other apostles  arrested, the gates of the jail opened at night, and they found the apostles preaching in the temple courts the next morning. (Acts 5: 17-26)
7. Finally the full council of the Sanhedrin sat down, and having spoken to the Apostles again, this time they concluded that they should stop fighting them, lest they be found to be fighting against God.

This is what Gamaliel, who was an honoured pharisees said, as the last word.

Acts 5:38-39 New International Version (NIV)

38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

Peter had used the key of agreement to unlock the church as a living gate of heaven and bring a manifestation of the powers of kingdom of God into Jerusalem.

There is a certain dimension of heaven that can only manifest on earth through the church. But that dimension requires for at least two born again believers, to come into complete agreement, to unlock that dimension.

I believe this is why Jesus sent the seventy, and the twleve two by two. Even Paul was sent together with Barnabas. Jesus never sent a person by themselves. Even when Paul separated with Barnabas, Paul took Silas and Barnabas took Mark. There is a gate that can only be opened when at least two, truly believers come into agreement through fellowship. Thats one of the keys of the kingdom.

Binding With the Key

The keys of the kingdom are not only for loosing things, they are also for binding things. Many churches have bound themselves in heaven and on earth, through certain agreements that they made together.

Let me start with the life of Peter.

The church that was at Jerusalem made an agreement that they would sell their property and give it to the church, such that no-one would claim anything as personal property. Under this agreement, the reward would be that there was to be no one poor among them, or any that lacked.

Acts 4:32-35 New King James Version (NKJV)

32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. 34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

Jesus had said, if two of you agree concerning anything on earth, it shall be done for them by The Father, such that whatever they bind on earth is bound in heaven and whatever they loose on earth is loosed in heaven.

In the above verse, it says that those who believed were of one heart and one soul, which means they were all in willing agreement to giving all their possessions to the the apostles. No-one was forced, they entered into this agreement willingly, and bound their possessions to the church.

We are then told, that there are two people, who had willingly entered into this agreement, and then later decided to secretly hide away some of their possessions. They died as a result.

Acts 5 New King James Version (NKJV)

5 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. 2 And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”

5 Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. 6 And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.

Even though Peter said, Ananias had lied to the Holy Spirit, take note that Ananias did not even say a word. His lie was not in his words but his actions. He didn’t even get a chance to respond. He just died immediately. I believe God gave him a very strong judgement because the church was still in it’s foundation and a little leaven at the foundation would have corrupted the whole of Christianity.

The Key of Agreement can be used to bind or loose people through a doctrine. For example, If I am your pastor and I preach to you that you have to give your whole January Salary every year, for the blessings of heaven to open in your life. If you agree to that doctrine, you and I are considered to have agreed concerning your salary and blessing on earth, so it becomes bound also in heaven. Such that when a year comes that you withhold your salary from me, heaven will withhold certain blessings from you because those are the terms of your agreement.

In as much as there are people who need to be loosed from demonic covenants, there are some who need to be loosed from church covenants.

Later on, the church in Jerusalem faced persecution and then went into poverty. Paul and Barnabas were asked to collect money from the gentile churches. However Paul chose to preach a doctrine that placed the gentiles into an agreement of freedom concerning their blessings.

Firstly, he made them aware, that God had already blessed them with all spiritual blessings before the foundation of the world, and that he had accepted them as holy and blameless already. 

Ephesians 1:3-6 New King James Version (NKJV)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

When you know that God has already accepted you and blessed you, this truth frees you spiritually, such that you are not trying to earn God’s acceptance or blessing by giving. But rather you are giving out of your blessing.

Listen to how Paul puts it.

1 Corinthians 16:1-2 New English Translation (NET Bible)

16 With regard to the collection for the saints, please follow the directions that I gave to the churches of Galatia: 2 On the first day of the week, each of you should set aside some income and save it to the extent that God has blessed you, so that a collection will not have to be made when I come.

Here Paul shows them that God has already blessed them, and encouraging them to give to the other saints, according to the blessing they already have. However, he introduces them to the principle of sowing and reaping, to show them that the more you give to men, the more you will receive from God through men.

2 Corinthians 9:5-7 New English Translation (NET Bible)

5 Therefore I thought it necessary to urge these brothers to go to you in advance and to arrange ahead of time the generous contribution you had promised, so this may be ready as a generous gift and not as something you feel forced to do. 6 My point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each one of you should give just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, because God loves a cheerful giver.

If you enter into a church agreement that binds your deliverance, health or marriage to certain modes of giving money, when you break that agreement, you find yourself suffering in those areas. Not because this is God’s perfect will for you, but because when you bound yourself to that agreement on earth, your deliverance, health or marriage became bound to that in heaven. 

Even when you ask heaven, why am I struggling, heaven will respond, because you haven’t paid this or that. You will then say, it is God punishing me, yet it’s not God, its your own covenant that is condemning you. Through misinformation and wrong doctrines, many churches have bound themselves into prisons of their own making.

In conclusion, lets look at how the Apostle Paul used the Key of Agreement to discipline believers who were damaging the church by their extremely sinful lives.

1 Corinthians 5:3-5 New King James Version (NKJV)

³ For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. ⁴ In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, ⁵ deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord ^[a]Jesus.

The Believer’s Gate

When we enter into the kingdom of heaven through the main gate, Jesus, we find the Church Gate that contains several realities within it. Inside the church gate we find the believers gate, that gives us access to certain heavenly things.

As a believer, your physical body is a house, and temple of the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 6:19 New King James Version (NKJV)

19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

This means that as a christian you carry the kingdom of God inside you. Your body is a gate way through which heaven can manifest on earth and those on earth, can access heaven. 

The Believer’s Key

The Key that unlocks the Believer’s gate is The Name of Jesus.

Jesus told the apostles that he was sending them so that they may bear fruit. He then assured them that if they asked the father for anything, in his name, it will be done.

John 15:16 New International Version (NIV)

16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.

Jesus starts John 15, by saying that He was the true vine, and we as his followers were the branches. This means we are an extension of the ministry of Christ. As a result, the things that we ask in his name, to bear the fruit of his ministry, will be done for us in heaven.

Jesus gives us an idea of the kind of fruit that is unlocked through his name.

Mark 16:17-18 New King James Version (NKJV)

17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

There are people who are bound by demons, sickness and serpents (lies/ false teachings). By The name of Jesus, the believer can loose these people and set them free from demons, sickness and lies. And you can bring the freedom and truth of God into their lives.

One thing you will notice, is that the name of Jesus in Mark 16, is unlocking things that are related to the ministry of Jesus on earth as Christ. (Luke 4:18)

The name of Jesus brings Salvation in all it’s different forms.

Acts 4:12 New King James Version (NKJV)

12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.The Name Of Jesus

When we say, “in the name of Jesus” we are actually saying that we are doing this on behalf of, as a representative, and in the authority of Jesus Christ. When we heal in the name of Jesus, we are healing on behalf of Jesus and by his authority. That is why we give glory to Jesus at the end.

When we use the name of Jesus, we become an extension of the ministry of Jesus on earth. That is why you will see his name bringing forth a manifestation of power and authority to set people free from satanic oppression, healing the sick and the spread of the gospel. The name of Jesus allows the believer to move in the same power and authority that Christ manifested on earth.

Peter and the Believer’s Key

This is one of the first keys that Peter used. 

The Lame Man Healed

When Peter was entering the temple in the first days of the church, a lame man asks him for money. Peter responds by unlocking declaring healing for this man.

Acts 3:6-8 New King James Version (NKJV)

6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God

Warning concerning the name.

Peter then later explains something about the name of Jesus. The name of Jesus does not depend upon the power or godliness of the person using it. 

Acts 3:12 New International Version (NIV)

12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?

Acts 3:16 New International Version (NIV)

16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.

As long as you have faith in the name, and what the name can do, you will be able to bring a manifestation of the ministry of Christ on earth.

There are many today, who are casting demons and doing many miracles in Jesus name, but they themselves are living in iniquity.

Matthew 7:22-23 International Standard Version (ISV)

22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name, drove out demons in your name, and performed many miracles in your name, didn’t we?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who practice evil!’”

CONCLUSION

We have looked at the three gates, and the three keys that unlocks them. You will notice that the three gates are all mentioned in the conversation between Peter and Jesus, where Peter is promised the keys.

Let us learn to use the keys of the kingdom with Godly wisdom.

Amen.