Welcome to NECF Sermons. Each message here is
designed to uplift and strengthen you in your
walk with God. Don't miss out. Stay with us until
the end for a rewarding experience. Let's dive
right in. I'm going to pray in this dimension.
Psalm 55. Verse 22. It says, cast your burdens
on the Lord and he shall sustain you. Hallelujah.
Does this sound like an instruction? Amen? Does
this sound like an instruction to us this morning.
Cast your burdens. Do we have burdens? If you
don't have a burden, you can sit down. But do
you know that you can even generate a burden
now? Right? Amen? It says, cast your burdens
on the Lord. On who? On your parents? On your
pastors? Some of you, your body is overwhelming
on us. You are meant to just share it with us,
but you are casting it on us. Hallelujah. The
scripture says, cast your burden on the Lord
and he shall sustain you. He shall never permit
the righteous to be moved. He will never permit,
it's a promise of the Lord, that he will never
permit the righteous to be moved. When we come
to the New Testament, we will see where he says,
for he cares for you affectionately. Cast your
burdens on the Lord, for he cares for you affectionately.
So I want you to just, whatever burden he came
into this place with, Whatever body he came into
this place with. Listen, God is here. God is
in our midst. Hallelujah. One of the things that
happened in this place, as the people of God
gather, is that God lifts up burdens in people's
hearts. Amen. And that is what God has started
in this place. And God is lifting up burdens
in people's hearts. So I just want you to just
communicate that thing that is a burden in your
heart. No matter how big it is. No matter how
small it is. Take advantage of the move of God
in our midst. The steering of God in this place.
And communicate to God. Now open your mouth and
speak to God. Open your mouth and speak to God.
Speak to God. Speak to God. I want to hear somebody
speaking to God concerning your circumstance.
Speak to God concerning your circumstance. Speak
to God passionately concerning what is the burden
in your heart. Just like the woman in the temple
praying to God expecting a child, Praying to
God, I want you to just pray fervently concerning
what the burden is. Concerning what the burden
is. Speak to God concerning that burden. God
is doing something in this hour. The power of
God is here to meet our needs. The power of God
is here to meet your needs. Speak to God concerning
that thing. Make sure you're praying. Thank you,
family. concerning your family. Shalikapatusa
kata lapatusekitakaya. Ashalimbranasisketia.
Alipranusakata lapranisketia. Mangapatusa kata
kata kata kata kata. Ilaparusekata lambranasisketia.
Mangapatusulupranusite. Ishalapusakaya. Mangapatia.
Maripasusakata. Malapranisisekite. Ishalusakaya.
Nevabisale, nevabisale, nevabisale. Speak to
God. Speak to God concerning that issue, concerning
that matter, concerning that matter. God is interested
in your situation. The Bible says he will never
allow the righteous to be moved. He will never
allow the righteous to be moved. Just speak to
God at this hour. Speak to God concerning that
matter in your family, in your life, in your
family, in your life, in your ministry, in your
work, even in the practical part of your life,
whatever it is, whatever burden it is. Speak
to God. Speak to God. . . . . . . . . Speak to
God. That is why we are here. We are here to
pray. That's what we do in the garden of the
believers. We pray. We pray. We pray. Say, Lord,
this is what is disturbing my heart. This is
what is disturbing my heart. This is what is
disrupting my peace. Father, we thank you, Lord,
that you are meeting our needs. Thank you, Lord,
that you are meeting our needs. Thank you, Jesus,
that you are meeting our needs. You are meeting
our needs. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Holy
Ghost. Thank you, Father, that you are meeting
our needs. Every practical need in this house
is met in the name of Jesus Christ. Every practical
need in Christ is met in the name of Jesus Christ.
We shall never be moved. Hallelujah. Now, please,
when you leave this place, make sure that you
live with a free mind. Hallelujah. Some of you,
if you come to church, as though you drop your
burdens by the door, and when you are leaving,
you pick it up again and you continue throughout
the week. Hallelujah. When you lay your burdens
before God, you leave it there. Amen? Leaving
it there simply means that you don't worry about
it. Leaving it there simply means that you trust
God's ability to cater for your needs. Leaving
it there simply means that you trust God's ability
to answer the desires of your heart. Hallelujah.
So I just want to encourage you in this place,
not only today, but continuously. inculcate the
habit of committing everything that disturbs
your heart to God. And trusting that God is sufficient.
You see, the reason for depression, the reason
why someone will wake up and say, I'm depressed,
is because you carry your problems so much on
your own head. And you forget that you have a
God that is interested in every detail of your
life. Amen? So I want to encourage you that this
should be a habit that at no time, in fact, when
you catch yourself worrying, sometimes it happens
to me. Amen? I'll discover that I'm going out
of order. Going out of order will mean that I'm
not living in joy. Hallelujah. The spirit of
God in you is a spirit of what? It's a spirit
of joy. So at all times, the believer ought to
be full of joy. Regardless of whatever things
that are happening in the external, we are not
saying that challenges will not come. Amen? There
is no promise that problems will not come. But
even when problems come, the believer is stable.
Hallelujah. Because we are sure that we are not
without help. We are sure that God is our help.
We are sure that God is able to rescue us in
all situations. Hallelujah. So I want you to
be encouraged by this. I want you to be encouraged
by this because I sense in my heart that a lot
of people have burdens in their heart. And I
trust that every burden is lifted up in Jesus'
name. Amen. Hallelujah. Let's have our seats.
Let's have our seats. Matthew chapter 16. Matthew
chapter 16. I want to welcome everybody to church
this morning. Turn to your left and right and
welcome your brother, your sister, and say, You're
welcome to church. If the face by your right
or your left is new, say, What is your name?
Ask the person's name. Amen. Matthew chapter
16, verse 18 and 19. Matthew 16, verse 18 and
19. I want to welcome those who traveled and
are back. I can see some faces that have been
away for a while and some couple of new students
that have joined us freshly. You're welcome.
Matthew 16, verse 18. And also I 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. Verse 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 where? In heaven.
Hallelujah. So, we confirm that from the foundation
of the world, God is building a house. God is
doing something. God is working. God is building
a house from the foundation of the world. From
the inception of time, God is doing something.
And that house is not a fiscal house, but it's
something spiritual that God is doing. Hallelujah.
That house is what we see as the family of God.
That house is what we see as a church of God,
that God intends to build a family of people.
And all nations we saw shall flow to this house
of God, to this family of God. The intention
of God, is to have a people that are called His
own. The intention of God is to have a people
who are called by His name. And this encompasses
all nations. All nations. The house of God, we
saw, will be constituted of people from every
tribe of the nation. It doesn't matter where
you're coming from. It doesn't matter your nationality.
It doesn't matter your skin color. It doesn't
matter your level of education, the intention
of God is to have all nation in His house, in
His family, the house of God. Every tribe, every
race, every tongue, and of course, every gender.
Two genders, the two genders. Hallelujah. Now,
we saw that the Father's house is not just a
building, even though we see in the In the writings
of the Old Testament scriptures, the writings
of Moses and God's way of communicating to the
prophets of old, we see fiscal buildings, constructions
of houses and of temples. We see when David wanted
to build a temple for God and then God executed
this plan through his son Solomon. And we see
when Moses came, Moses instituted the tabernacle.
And over and over and then we see the continuity
of that even to the time of Christ. And we see
where Jesus Christ was speaking today to the
disciples in Matthew 24 from verse 1 and 2 about
the destruction of the physical temple. And we
say that the physical temple is actually God's
way of communicating what he will do in the spirit.
Hallelujah. That a physical temple is only a
representation. It is not the real thing. It
is only a way of communication of God. That God
is communicating his plan and his purpose. Let's
look at Matthew 24 once again to remind ourselves.
And of course, for the interest of those who
are not here in the previous weeks. Matthew 24,
from verse 1 to 3. Then Jesus went out and departed
from the temple, and his disciples came up to
show him the buildings of the temple. So they
were showing him the magnificence of the temple,
how glorious the construction is. And Jesus said
to them, Do you not see all these things? That
is referring to the building. As surely I say
to you, not one stone shall be left here upon
another. that shall not be thrown down. Now,
as he sat on the mountain of olives, the disciples
came to him privately, saying, Tell us, when
will these things be? And what will be the sign
of your coming and of the end of the age? And
we say that the question that was asked in verse
3 was concerning what Jesus Christ said in the
previous two verses about the destruction of
the temple. And in our stories, we saw that Jesus
Christ was telling them that the error of these
sacrifices that are done in the temple will end.
That the error of animal sacrifices, the error
of ceremonial washings that are done in the temple
will end. And God will introduce a new system.
And this new system is what is called... It is
actually what is eternal. It is what is spiritual.
Hallelujah. And this new system that God will
bring to be will be in the death and the resurrection
of Jesus Christ. When Jesus Christ dies and is
rose again, he's going to usher in a new system
of worship, a new system of interaction with
people. And we call this system the family of
God. We call this system... The kingdom of God.
We call this new system the church of God. Hallelujah.
And in Matthew 16 verse 19, we see Jesus similarly
communicating the plan that he had. Let's go
back to that Matthew 16 verse 19. He says, and
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.
The keys of the kingdom of heaven. So we also
saw from the scriptures previously that the house,
that this house or this temple or this that God
is building is also referred to as land, as a
land. That is in God's way of communication to
Abraham, he promised them a land, a people, a
nation, to Isaac and also to Jacob. And we are
able to see from Hebrews that this land, is a
city, the city of God. The heavenly Jerusalem.
Heavenly refers to something spiritual, not a
physical Jerusalem, but a heavenly Jerusalem.
Something that is not physical, but something
that is spiritual. And we saw that this land,
this heavenly Jerusalem, is also called the church
of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 11, verse 8. Verse 8.
Hebrews. Yes. Hebrews 11 from verse 8 to 16.
It says, By faith, Abraham obeyed when he was
called to go out to the place which he will receive
as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing
where he was going. By faith, he dwelled in the
land of promise. So what God promised was a land.
What God promised was a country. By faith he
dwelt in the land of promise, as in a foreign
country dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob,
the heirs with him of the same promise. So it
means that the promise of God to Abraham is the
same promise that was given to Jacob, to Isaac,
to Jacob, even to the children of Israel. For
he waited. This is what Abraham waited for. This
is what Abraham was promised. For he waited for
the city which has foundations. whose builder
and maker is who? It's God. That wouldn't be
an earthly nation built by men. So what Abraham
was promised was something spiritual, something
that is built by God. By faith, Sarah herself
also received strength to conceive seed, and
she bore a child when she was past the age, because
she judged him faithful, Who has what? Has promised.
God has promised. And God is faithful. Therefore
from one man and him as good as death were born
as many as the stars of the sky in multitude,
innumerable as the sun which is by the seashore.
This wouldn't be the nation of Israel of today.
Hallelujah. Because the nation of Israel today
are not... are not as much as even Nigeria, where
I come from. They're not even half of my country.
So we can say that they are the fulfillment of
God's promise. Amen? So these all died in faith,
not having received the promises, but having
seen them afar off, were assured of them, embraced
them, and confessed that indeed they were strangers
and pilgrims on earth. For those who say such
things declare plainly that they seek a homeland.
The word homeland here refers to a community.
Hallelujah. It refers to a community. And truly,
if they had called to mind that country from
which they had come out, they would have had
an opportunity to return. But now they desire
a better. Now the word better here, We always
explain to you, it means something permanent.
Amen? Beta here refers to something permanent.
They desire something permanent. That is a spiritual
country. Heavenly refers to what? Spiritual.
Something spiritual. So, they desire something
permanent. They desire a spiritual country. Therefore,
God... It's not a shame to be called their God.
For he has prepared a city for them. And we explained
this city on Wednesday. We said this city, what
does the word city refer to? Of course, from
the Greek word polis, right? It means what? People.
For he has prepared a people for them. For he
has prepared a family for them. Alright? So the
plan of God is what? It's a family. It's a family.
Hallelujah. Let's jump to chapter 12, verse 22.
Hebrews 12, 22. But you have come to Mount Zion
and to the city to the family, to the community,
to the country, to the church of the living God,
the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company
of angels, to the general assembly and church
of the firstborn, who are registered in heaven,
to God the judge of all, To the spirits of just
men made perfect. To Jesus, the mediator of the
new covenant and to the blood of the sprinkling
that speaks better things than the blood of a
bell. Hallelujah. So we see that the culmination
of the explanation of all that God is doing or
what God will do is that he is establishing his
family on earth. what we call their household,
what we call the church. Hallelujah. Now, the
promise that God made to Abraham, to Isaac and
Jacob, was also made to David. Now, let's look
at David. 2 Samuel 7. 2 Samuel 7, verse 12. I
just want you to see the consistency of God's
plan. Once God says something, He ensured that
what? That that didn't come to pass. Hallelujah.
And we saw earlier on in Psalms, He said that
He will never allow, it is not in God's, it is
not in God's attitude or culture to allow the
righteous to be moved. Amen? It is not in God's
character to allow the righteous to be forsaken.
And God is committed to His words. The psalmist
will say that since I was young and now I am
old, I have never seen what? The sons of the
righteous do what? Huh? Is he forsaking or begging?
Begging for bread. Hmm? Okay. He has never seen
the righteous forsaking. No, he sits. Doing what?
Begging for bread. And you hear such kind of
promise and then you say you are depressed. It's
impossible because God is consistent. God is
consistent in his promises. And all through scriptures
we'll see the consistency of God. God's consistency
goes beyond your own inconsistency. Because God
is not dependent on you to take an action. Hallelujah.
The idea of salvation is not because we requested
for it. Amen. It was on a plan of man. Man never
sat down and negotiated with God. Please God,
can you come and die for us? Because we have
a problem. No. God originated the plan for our
salvation. And he designed the plan how it will
be executed. And he alone executed it. Amen.
So it was not, man never contributed in God's
plan. of saving men because no one can do it.
He became man so that he would die to save men.
Hallelujah. Now let's go back to God's promise
to David. It says, when your days are fulfilled
and you rest with your fathers, I will set up
your seed. Is this similar to what we see in
Abraham? A seed, right? Similar to who? To Isaac,
a seat. Similar to who? To Jacob, a seat. I will
set up your seat after you. Who will come from
your body? And I will establish his kingdom.
He shall build a house for my name. This seat
shall build a house for my name. And I will establish
the throne of his kingdom forever. Hallelujah.
I will be his father and he shall be my son.
If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with
the rod of men and with the blows of the sons
of men. This part is concerning Solomon. Hallelujah.
But my mercy shall not depart from him as I took
it. Amen. Verse 16. Amen. The house is also the
kingdom, right? Amen. The house is also the kingdom,
right? Forever before you. Your throne shall
be established. How? Forever. And we see this
promise also reiterated in 1 Chronicles 17. Another
place where this promise was reiterated. 1 Chronicles
17 from verse 11. 1 Chronicles 17 verse 11. 11
to 14. And it shall be that when your days are
fulfilled. When you must go to be with your fathers,
that I will set up your seat, that I will set
up your seat after you, who will be of your sons.
And I will establish his kingdom. And I will
establish his kingdom. He shall build me a house,
and I will establish his throne forever. Verse
13, yes. I will be his father and he shall be
my son. And I will not take my mercy away from
him as I took it from him who was before you.
And I will establish him in my house and in my
kingdom forever. And his throne shall be established
forever. Hallelujah. Now the mercy that God took
away from Saul is actually the plan of God. Amen.
Hallelujah. Now, we'll find time to explain that
subsequently. Psalms 89. We're looking at how
God declared the promises to David. Psalms 89
verse 3. Psalms 89 verse 3. I have made a covenant
with my chosen. I have sworn to my servant David.
What is the covenant? Let's look at it. Next
verse. Your seat I will establish forever. Whenever
you see God establishing the seat of David, you
will see it is forever. Consistently, it is forever.
And build up your throne to all generations.
Hallelujah. To all generations. Sila. Now, if
you are smart, you will ask this question. Today,
do we still see the throne of David in existence
today? Do we still see the son of David on the
throne of David today as a physical kingdom,
as a physical throne? Which means that what God
was promising was not something physical. was
something that is forever, something that is
eternal, was something that is spiritual, but
communicated using physical things. Hallelujah.
Now from the promise, we would be tempted to
think, oh, that is Solomon, that is a promise
of God. Similarly, the way we can easily think
of Isaac as a promise to Abraham. This house
of David, which is also called the kingdom of
David, the Bible says, will last forever. The
seed will also reign over the house of David
forever. Hallelujah. Now, the prophet Isaiah
will later give clarity about this seed of David
that will last forever, that will reign forever.
In Isaiah 9, verse 6 -7, we will see that the
prophet clarified that this He's talking about
the Messiah. Isaiah 9 verse 6. It says, for unto
us a child is born and unto us a son is given
and the government will be upon his shoulder
and his name will be called Wonderful, Counselor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Verse 7. Of the increase of his government and
peace, there will be no end. Which means that
he is eternal. Upon the throne of David. Upon
where? Upon the throne of David and over his
kingdom to order it and establish it with judgment
and justice from that time forward. Even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do what? will
perform this. So, the prophet Isaiah clarified
that this promise concerning the throne, the
kingdom of David, the house of David, is actually
the prophecy concerning the Messiah who will
come and establish the kingdom, the house of
David forever. Hallelujah. Also, in Luke chapter
1 verse 32, we will see that when the angel appeared
to Mary, he clarified his mission. Luke chapter
1 verse 32. Luke chapter 1 verse 32. This is
what the angel said to Mary. He says, he will
be great and will be called the son of the highest.
Talking about the baby that will be born. He
will be called the son of the highest and the
Lord God will give him what? What will the Lord
God give him? He will give him the throne of
his father, David. And he will reign over the
house of Jacob forever. And of his kingdom, what
will happen? There will be no end. So it therefore
means that that seed of David that will reign
over the kingdom, the throne of David, the house
of David forever, is actually God's communication,
God's communicating his plan of the coming Messiah.
who will reign forever. Hallelujah. Now, people
also recognize Jesus as the son of David. Amen.
It is important that we see in scriptures that
not only did the angel pronounce Jesus as the
son of David, but men who existed during that
time also understood by prophecy that this is
the Messiah. And the scriptures have spoken that
the Messiah will come in the lineage of David.
That the Messiah will be called the son of David.
That the Messiah will come and inherit the throne
of David, the kingdom of David, the house of
David. Let's look at an example. The blind man
in Luke chapter 18 verse 38. Luke chapter 18
verse 38. 38 and 39. And he cried out, saying,
Jesus, son of Joseph, son of Joseph. But I was
thinking Joseph was the father of Jesus. But
he said, that means that the blind man had an
understanding of Jesus as prophesied by scriptures,
that this is a Messiah. And this man, this Messiah
is actually in the lineage of David. And he cried
out saying, Jesus, son of David, have mercy on
me. Meaning that the Messiah will come along
with mercy. Alright? Have mercy on me. Then those
who went before warned him that he should be
quiet. But he cried out, out loud. Meaning that
he didn't make mistakes. It wasn't a mistake
that he called on the son of David. He cried
out a second time, son of David, have mercy on
me. Also the Canaanite woman, Matthew 15, 22.
The woman from Canaan, Matthew. I think this
woman is a gentile, right? I presume this woman
should be a gentile. Maybe we'll look at it.
And behold, a woman from Canaan came from the
region and cried out to him, saying, Have mercy
on me, O Lord. Son of who? Son of David. Son
of David, my daughter is severely demon -possessed.
So she recognized Jesus as who? As the son of
David, with whom will inherit the promise of
the kingdom of David that has been prophesied
in the scriptures. Matthew 21, verse 9. Matthew
21, verse 9. Then the multitude who went before
and those who followed cried out saying, Hosanna
to the son of David. Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
So the crowd also prophetically envisioned Jesus
as the Messiah and see him as the one who will
inherit the throne or the kingdom of David. Hallelujah.
Or the house of David. Amen. So similarly, we
will see that the prophet Isaiah also prophesied
about the keys of the house of David. We saw
this on Wednesday. Isaiah 22, from Isaiah 22.
Isaiah 22, verse 23. Then it shall be in that
day, and I will call myself an Eliakim now. Eliakim
is actually a character in the scriptures. But
prophetically, these words were not about Eliakim,
but it's about the Messiah. Hallelujah. Because
Eliakim is a type, it's a typology of Jesus.
Just like Moses is a type of Jesus, just like
some characters in the scriptures are a type
of Jesus, but not Jesus himself. They represent
Jesus. Hallelujah. Then it shall be in that day
that I will call my servant Eliakim, the son
of Hilkiah. I will clothe him with your rope
and strengthen him with your belt. I will commit
your responsibility into his hand. He shall be
a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and
to the house of Judah. The key of the house of
David. I will lay on his shoulder. So the key,
right, will be laid where? On his shoulder. Do
you sound like Isaiah chapter 9? The government
on his shoulder. Power, authority. Key on his
shoulders. Hallelujah. 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. I will fasten him as a
pick in a secure place and he will become a glorious
throne to his father's house. Do you read verse
23? Yes, verse 23. So Eliakim, It's a foreshadowing
of Christ. It's a foreshadowing of Christ. We'll
see this explained in Revelation 3, verse 7.
Make a reference to this. Revelation 3, verse
7. And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia,
write, This thing says he who is holy, he who
is true, he who has the key of what? He who has
the key of David. He's talking about the Messiah.
He who has the key of David. He who opens and
no one shuts. And shuts and no one opens. Talking
about Jesus Christ. Hallelujah. So in Matthew
18, 16 verse 19. We will see Jesus makes a promise.
Let's go back to Matthew, our key scripture,
Matthew 18 verse 19. Jesus makes a promise. And
what is a promise? He made a promise. He says,
I will give you. He's not saying take the key,
but rather it's a promise. It's still a promise.
He says, I will give you the keys of the kingdom.
And for those that have been following us, he
said these keys is not plural. It's translators,
right? that made it plural. Okay? He says, 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 lose on earth will
be loosed in heaven. And we noted that the church
and the kingdom are synonymous. The church and
the kingdom are synonymous. The kingdom of heaven
is where God rules and reigns. The church is
supernatural. The church is supernatural. Hallelujah.
It's where God reigns. The church is not a social
gathering. It's not a club. It's a supernatural
reality. Hallelujah. All of us that are here
belongs to a supernatural family. We belong to
a supernatural family, meaning that we are spiritual.
I want you to know that the keys, as mentioned
in verse 19 of Matthew 16, is used, the word
keys is used as a metaphor for access. The word
keys is a metaphor. For what? For access. So
what Jesus will be saying to Peter in this verse
is that I'll give you the access to what? I'll
give you the access to what? To the kingdom of
God. I will give you the access to the kingdom
of God. I'll give you that. What access is also
authority. We've seen it previously. I'll give
you the authority of what? Of the kingdom. I'll
give you the access which refers to authority.
We can use power. Amen? Keys is the word kleis
in the Greek. K -L -E -I -S in the Greek. Which
metaphorically can also be referred to as power
or authority since the keeper of the keys, he
who holds the keys, has the power or authority
to open or to shut. Amen? So, Jesus made this
promise to Peter. He says, and I will give you
the keys. He will give the keys because he actually
has it. Jesus will give the keys because he has
the key. The key has been delivered to him. So,
what will the key mean? We said it means access,
right? It will enable Peter to do what? To open
and close, will it? With a key, he'll be able
to bind and also what? And also loose with a
key, with the access. So when will this key be
given? When will this key be given? Huh? When
will this key be given? Because Jesus was making
a promise. So this key, will be given in the
resurrection of Jesus Christ. The key, Lord,
is a promise that will be given when Jesus has
died and he rose again. So the key is a product
of Jesus' resurrection from the dead. If Jesus
has not died, he can't hand over the key to Peter.
Hallelujah. So the key is a product of Jesus'
death. His burial and His resurrection. How did
we come to this conclusion that is actually a
product of Jesus' resurrection? When we look
at the subsequent verses from Matthew 16, we
discover that in the same line, Jesus went on
to begin to speak about His death. Matthew 16,
verse 21. Yes, yes, from verse 20, verse 21.
Give me verse 21. Verse 21, yes. It says, from
that time, Jesus began to show to his disciples
that he must go to Jerusalem and do what? And
suffer many things from the elders and the chief
priests and scribes and be killed and be raised
the third day. Then Peter, because Peter did
not understand, he took Jesus aside and began
to chasten him and began to rebuke Jesus, saying,
far be it, God forbid. Far be it from you, Lord.
This shall not happen to you. But how will you
have the key? How will you have access to the
kingdom if I do not go? Alright? But he turned
and said to Peter, Get behind me, Satan. Now,
Peter is not Satan. Let's clarify this, alright?
And then, We cannot prove that Satan entered
Peter. Except we assume. Hallelujah. So, Satan,
the word Satan, we've learned that it's what?
It's opposition, right? It's a word for opposition.
So, you can be a Satan in this context. I'm not
saying you are the devil. And I hope that nobody
is from the devil in this place. And I hope that
all of us believe and we are from God. Hallelujah.
So Satan, the word Satan here means opposition.
Anything that is an opposition is a Satan. The
word Satan is an opposition. So Jesus said to
Peter, get behind me, the Satan. You are an offense
to me for you are not mindful of the things of
God, but the things of men. For the things of
men. For it was necessary for the Christ to die.
It was necessary for the Messiah to die so that
he can hand over the keys of the kingdom to men.
It was necessary that the Messiah must die that
he will hand over the access to the kingdom to
Peter, to men. Hallelujah. So we can ask again.
Is this key a literal key or something spiritual?
Huh? Spiritual? Is this talking of something
spiritual? Oh, I wish we could have printed some
keys today, Pastor Chidi. And then we can share
in church today the keys of the kingdom. But
then, it's talking of something spiritual, right?
Something that is not physical, but something
that is spiritual. Hallelujah. It is not material.
So what did Jesus give at the resurrection? We
concluded that this key will be given at the
resurrection, right? So what is this key that
Jesus gave at the resurrection? What is this
key that Jesus gave at the resurrection? Not
many keys. It's just one key. What did Jesus
give at his resurrection? Any clue? Jesus gave
us his spirit as a resurrection. Hallelujah.
So the keys, or what we call the key, the access
to the kingdom is actually the spirit. Jesus
gave the spirit at the resurrection. John chapter
14 verse 16. John chapter 14 verse 16 to 20.
Let's look at it. And I will pray the father.
That is before dying and rising from the dead.
And I will pray the father. And he will give
you another helper. In fact, this is the only
thing that Jesus promised that he would give
if he searched through all the scriptures. And
I'll give you another helper that he may abide
with you forever. The spirit of truth whom the
world cannot receive because it neither sees
him nor knows him, but you know him for he dwells
with you and will be In you. And I will not leave
you orphans. I will come to you. A little while
longer. And the world will see me no more. But
you will see me because I live. You will live
also. At that day you will know that I am in
my father. And you in me. And I in you. So before
Jesus' death and resurrection, he promised the
Holy Spirit. He gave the gift of the indwelling
of the Spirit at the resurrection. So do we have
the key of the kingdom? Amen? Does the believer
have the access to the kingdom of God? Does the
believer have the access, the authority of the
kingdom of God, the kingdom of heaven? Hallelujah.
Do we have the authority of the church? Amen?
The summary of everything Jesus gave at the resurrection
is called the Spirit. We can accumulate everything
and call it the Spirit. Pneumatica. Or is it
pneumaticus, right? We can classify everything
that Jesus did as what? As the Spirit. That is
what he gave us at his resurrection. The indwelling
of the Spirit in the believer. See, before Jesus
died, and when he died and rose again, the only
difference is that the Spirit lives in men. Amen?
Because before Jesus died, miracles were done.
Isn't it? Healings were done, isn't it? Jesus
healed the sick. The apostles performed miracles.
Even in the Old Testament, people performed miracles.
Hallelujah. So, Jesus' death and burial and resurrection
is not really what ushered in the miraculous.
Amen? The miraculous has been in existence even
before he died. Hallelujah. But remember, the
miraculous is a pointer to the fact that the
indwelling will happen. That the Spirit will
live in men and men will perform the works of
the Spirit. Hallelujah. So having the keys will
enable the believer. When the believer has the
keys, what will happen? The believer will be
able to bind and loose. Hallelujah. So we have
the keys, amen, of the kingdom. So we can bind
and loose. Can we bind and loose? Right? So what
does it mean to bind and to loose? Who can help
us? Eh? I want someone randomly to just help
us so we can cross this chapter. What does it
mean to bind and loose? Eh? To what? I didn't
hear. To imprison. Imprison who? Yes, to imprison
people. Anybody from school in training center
should not answer. Binding and losing. Matthew
chapter 18. Let's look at one here. I was hoping
we would have more time to explain this binding
and losing. Anyway, Matthew 18. Verse 15 to 20.
So we have the spirit in us. All right? We have
the access to the kingdom. We have the key, the
keys to the kingdom. So we have the ability to
bind and to loose. Isn't it? We have the capacity
to bind and to loose. Hallelujah. So Matthew
chapter 18 verse 15. Moreover, if your brother
sins against you, Go and tell him his fault between
you and him alone. If he hates you, you have
gained your brother. 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.
Verse 17. And if he refuses to hear them, tell
it to the ecclesia, the church. But if he refuses
even to hear the church, let him be to you like
a heathen. Verse 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. For where two or three are
gathered together in my name, I am there in their
midst. Hallelujah. So we'll see from this, this
connects with the key of David, right? Isaiah
22, verse 22. And Revelation chapter 3, verse
7. Showing authority. Jesus giving authority
to the church, to his church, to act on the earth
under heaven's backing. So I want you to know
Matthew 18, 18 is related to what? Forgiveness
and reconciliation. The context of the conversation
here. You don't bind and lose people. Amen. Or
this is not talking about spiritual forces. You
bind and you cast. And people have read this
scripture wrongly when they want to cast devils.
They read this scripture, it's a misappropriation
of scripture. Of course, we have authority to
what? To cast out devils, right? But this is
not a scripture for casting out devils. The context
of the communication here is what? It's reconciliation
of the brethren. The forgiveness that happens,
the forgiveness. Hallelujah. So it is related
to the forgiveness and reconciliation within
the church. As the context suggests, it is not
for cursing demons and spirits. So, let's briefly,
as we close, examine Jesus' instruction at the
resurrection as recorded in John 20. Remember
I gave was a hint that the binding and losing
is in relation to what? Forgiveness and what?
And reconciliation. Binding and losing is in
connection to what? Forgiveness and reconciliation
of sins. This one we see is in relationship between
brothers and sisters in the church. Amen. So
whatever they bind and lose simply means whatever
they've agreed concerning what offense has been
done. Hallelujah. Now in John chapter 20 verse
19. John 20 verse 19. Then the same day at the
evening, being the first day of the week, when
the doors were shut, where the disciples were
assembled for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and
stood in the midst and said to them, Peace be
with you. When he had said this, he showed them
his hands and his side. Then the disciples were
glad when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to
them, Peace to you. As the Father has sent me,
I also sent you. As the Father has sent me, I
also sent you. And when he had said this, he
breathed on them and said to them, Receive the
Holy Spirit. The next verse. Now look at this
statement very carefully. If you forgive the
sins of any, what has happened? They are forgiving
them. If you retain the sins of any, they are
what? They are retained. Amen? If you forgive,
but first of all, he breathed on them. Now, we're
going to see, we know when the Spirit was given,
right? In this text, we didn't see the Spirit.
He breathed on them and he said, receive ye the
Spirit. But we didn't see the record that they
received the Spirit in this text. We'll see it
later on in Acts. Hallelujah. But then, because
of the spirit that they have, because of the
gift of the indwelling of the spirit that will
come, they can forgive anyone and then the person
will be forgiven. And when they retain somebody's
sin, that sin will be retained. And how does
a believer forgive and retain sin? That's what
we should be asking. How does a believer retain?
and forgive sin. We've noted that the agency
by which we have access to the kingdom of God
is by the Holy Spirit within us. So how does
a believer forgive and retain sin of men? By
preaching the gospel. Amen? By preaching the
gospel, men believe and are forgiven. When the
believer who has the spirit of God in him, who
has the access to the kingdom of God, preach
the gospel and men believe, their sins are forgiven.
By not preaching the gospel, we keep the sins
of men. We return the sins of men by not preaching
the gospel. And they are not forgiven. Hallelujah.
It means, That the forgiveness that men will
receive in this world depends on men. Do you
know why? Because God has given the access to
the kingdom to men. God has given the access,
the authority of the kingdom of heaven to us.
We the church, we have the access to the kingdom.
So we have the responsibility of making men experience
heaven. God shares with us the access. by which
men will come into the house of God, the family
of God, the household of God. Verse 23 means
that the believer is the determinant by which
the men are saved or not. The Christian is a
determinant by which men are forgiven or not.
Hallelujah. So if you as a believer is not preaching
the gospel to the unsaved, what you're doing
is that you are not releasing forgiveness to
them. Amen? You're not releasing forgiveness
to them. So, what have you been doing with the
access that you have? What have you been doing
with the authority of the kingdom that you have?
What have you been doing with the access to the
kingdom that you have? Are you acting like the
Pharisees? Jesus said that the Pharisees, they
themselves did not enter. Right? And they do
not allow others to enter. That was Jesus' problem
with the Pharisees actually. Because of their
conduct, they do not allow others to experience
the kingdom. Because of their irresponsibility,
they don't allow others to see the knowledge
by knowledge. They don't allow people to understand
the kingdom. They themselves are not willing
to understand because of their unbelief. And
then people are not also. able to understand
thereafter experiencing the kingdom. Hallelujah.
Now we're going to see subsequently how we can
exercise the authority of the kingdom. But what
I want to show to you this morning for you to
go on with an understanding that you should have
is that you as the believer has the authority
of the kingdom. And primarily, the authority
vested on you is to bring others into the family.
And whenever you don't preach the gospel, you
are restraining men from receiving forgiveness.
Whenever you preach the gospel and men believe,
you are giving people forgiveness. Hallelujah.
So I want you to say, I forgive sins. I forgive
sins by preaching the gospel. I forgive sins
by preaching the gospel. I bind and I loose by
preaching the gospel. And men are brought into
the kingdom. And men experience the forgiveness
of God. I just want you to pray for yourself
at this moment. And ask God to help you to be
committed to the responsibility Paul would say
that knowing the knowledge, having the knowledge
of God, knowing the terror of God, we persuade
men because we've known God, we persuade men.
We plead with men. Having an understanding of
God's love, we preach the gospel. Paul would
say, what betides me if I don't preach the gospel?
You have a responsibility. I have a responsibility.
We all have a duty to preach the gospel to men,
to bring men into the experience of the kingdom
of God, to bring men into the experience of the
forgiveness of God. You have a responsibility.
And I want you to go into this week committed
to this responsibility. Committed to this responsibility
of telling men about the forgiveness of God.
That God in Jesus Christ has forgiven sins. That
God is no longer holding men accountable because
he has crucified Jesus. He has crucified Jesus
for our sins. Therefore, the debt of sin has
been taken away. Therefore, when men believe
they are forgiven, they are no longer responsible
for sin because God himself has taken the responsibility
upon himself and he has given us Jesus who died
for our sins. If you are a partaker of this free
gift, you have a duty. Because the salvation
you receive comes with a responsibility. And
the responsibility is to tell men about what
you have received. The end goal is that you become
a steward of this message. The message of the
gospel. That men are safe. That men are forgiven
of their sins. That is the plan of God. To populate
heaven. That is the plan of God. To have more
sons in the kingdom. Until next time, stay blessed.